Compare towns
Addison vs Essex vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Essex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.8%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Addison | Essex | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,175 |
11,516Highest |
1,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+12.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.1±7.6 23% above VT |
42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
| Mendon and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Essex and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±1.9 VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
57.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Addison and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$7k 31% above VT |
$110,199±$14kHighest 36% above VT |
$100,524±$23kLowest 24% above VT |
| Essex and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$23k 14% above VT |
$447,300±$14kHighest 41% above VT |
$357,000±$44kLowest 13% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$461Highest 64% above VT |
$1,569±$138 27% above VT |
$1,230±$651Lowest about the VT average |
| Addison and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,831 16% above VT |
$6,602Highest 31% above VT |
$5,342Lowest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±62.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.9%±13.1 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% VT: 73.2% |
75.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.5%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Essex 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 | — | #13 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.