What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).

Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brookline	Mendon
People
Population	531Lowest	1,113Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT	53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT
	Mendon and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±6Highest VT: 17.9%	14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Brookline and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4%	29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%	49.4%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7%	3.1%±2.1Lowest 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±$16kLowest about the VT average	$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT
	Mendon and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT	$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT
	Mendon and Brookline 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	$1,230±$651Lowest about the VT average
	Brookline and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,000Lowest about the VT average	$5,342Highest 6% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4%	88.6%±42.7Highest 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%	8.2%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	92.2%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT	1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 21% above VT	17 minLowest 28% below VT
Work from home	20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9%	22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9%
	Mendon and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.