Compare towns
Cavendish vs Castleton vs Mendon vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cavendish has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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 | Cavendish | Castleton | Mendon | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
4,453Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
| Mendon and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
| Mendon and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
| Mendon and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Mendon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948 22% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 21% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Cavendish 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | 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.