Compare towns

Wallingford vs Mendon vs Sheldon

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wallingford has the most renters (17.5% rent).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).

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.

MeasureWallingfordMendonSheldon
People
Population
2,286Highest
1,113Lowest
2,267
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.4%
VT: +2.8%
+8.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-2.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.9±10.8
6% above VT
53.4±10.5Highest
24% above VT
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% below VT
Mendon and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.7%±5
VT: 17.9%
14.6%±5.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
23.7%±3.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
Sheldon and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.9%±3.2
VT: 21.4%
29%±1.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.3%
VT: 43.8%
49.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.5%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
2%±1.3
VT: 7%
Mendon and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,230±$15k
about the VT average
$100,524±$23kHighest
24% above VT
$78,533±$25kLowest
3% below VT
Mendon and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$261,900±$44kLowest
17% below VT
$357,000±$44kHighest
13% above VT
$272,400±$61k
14% below VT
Mendon and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$891±$95Lowest
28% below VT
$1,230±$651
about the VT average
$1,286±$379Highest
4% above VT
Sheldon and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,355
14% below VT
$5,342Highest
6% above VT
$3,578Lowest
29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
14.3%±13.5
VT: 48.4%
88.6%±42.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line
7%
VT: 10.1%
8.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
89%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% above VT
17 minLowest
28% below VT
25 minHighest
7% above VT
Work from home
7.1%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.5%±8.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
13%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
Mendon and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Mill River Unified Union School District #52 — Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.