Compare towns

Brookline vs Mendon vs Wardsboro

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has the youngest population (median age 45.1).
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.

MeasureBrooklineMendonWardsboro
People
Population
531Lowest
1,113Highest
820
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
+8.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.1±2.7Lowest
5% above VT
53.4±10.5Highest
24% above VT
51.6±7.3
20% above VT
Mendon and Wardsboro 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%
18.8%±6.5
VT: 17.9%
Brookline and Wardsboro 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%
27.4%±3.1
VT: 21.4%
Mendon and Wardsboro 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%
49.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
38.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.1
VT: 7%
0.9%±0.9Lowest
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
$100,524±$23kHighest
24% above VT
$62,000±$6kLowest
24% below 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
$299,300±$47k
5% below VT
Mendon and Wardsboro 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
$1,479±$224
20% above VT
Brookline and Wardsboro 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
$5,342Highest
6% above VT
$4,345Lowest
14% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
88.6%±42.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
54.5%±58
VT: 48.4%
Mendon and Wardsboro 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%
7.7%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
90.4%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
1 yr older than VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1978Highest
2 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
21% above VT
17 minLowest
28% below VT
27 min
14% above VT
Work from home
20.6%±5.2
VT: 16.9%
22.5%±8.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
13.3%±5.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Mendon and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
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

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.