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.
| Measure | Wallingford | Mendon | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| 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.


