Compare towns
Brighton vs Mendon vs Wallingford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Wallingford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
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 | Brighton | Mendon | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167Highest |
1,113 |
643Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
47.7±22.3 11% above VT |
| Mendon and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.2%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Brighton and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±7.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$80,714±$18k about the VT average |
| Mendon and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$239,000±$49k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$927±$140 25% below VT |
| Mendon and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$3,743 26% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.6%±16.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
20 min 15% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Brighton School District | — | — |
| High school 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.