Compare towns

Cavendish vs Mendon vs Williston

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 most affordable homes ($285k median).
Mendon has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).

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.

MeasureCavendishMendonWilliston
People
Population
1,242
1,113Lowest
10,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+8.5%
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.2±5.9Lowest
5% above VT
53.4±10.5Highest
24% above VT
45.4±4.5
5% above VT
Mendon and Williston 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%
14.6%±5.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
20.5%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
Williston and Cavendish 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%
29%±1.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
21%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
49.4%
VT: 43.8%
54.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.1Lowest
VT: 7%
5.7%±2.7Highest
VT: 7%
Williston and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$89,063±$29kLowest
10% above VT
$100,524±$23k
24% above VT
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above VT
Williston and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$285,100±$40kLowest
10% below VT
$357,000±$44k
13% above VT
$475,800±$40kHighest
50% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,000±$546Lowest
19% below VT
$1,230±$651
about the VT average
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
Williston and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,948Lowest
22% below VT
$5,342
6% above VT
$5,592Highest
11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.9%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
88.6%±42.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4
VT: 48.4%
Mendon and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.3%
VT: 10.1%
8.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.3%
VT: 73.2%
92.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
75.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
8 yrs older than VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
21% below VT
17 minLowest
28% below VT
20 minHighest
16% below VT
Work from home
18.5%±6.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.5%±8.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6
VT: 16.9%
Mendon and Williston 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 — — #11 of 70 in VT
School district Green Mountain Unified School District #77 — Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 18 photos → 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.