Compare towns
Sheldon vs Whiting vs Mendon vs Swanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Sheldon | Whiting | Mendon | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
532Lowest |
1,113 |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
| Mendon and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$81,371±$14k about the VT average |
| Mendon and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$285,100±$35k 10% below VT |
| Mendon and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,204±$519Lowest about the VT average |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,257±$133 about the VT average |
| Sheldon and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,449 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
77.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% above VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.