Compare towns
Brookline vs Dover vs Mendon vs Hyde Park
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most people working from home (23.2%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Hyde Park has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
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 | Brookline | Dover | Mendon | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
1,466Highest |
1,113 |
513Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
42.6±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
| Dover and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Hyde Park and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
16.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brookline and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$89,946±$10k 11% above VT |
| Mendon and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$221,800±$57kLowest 30% below VT |
| Mendon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,306±$285 6% above VT |
| Brookline and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$3,893Lowest 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±47.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
7.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Mendon 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 | — | — | — | #59 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.