Compare towns
Danby vs Mendon vs Washington vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the most renters (10.7% rent).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Wells has the youngest population (median age 50.7).
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 | Danby | Mendon | Washington | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133 |
1,113 |
1,056Lowest |
1,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.7% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 22% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
52.9±5.1 23% above VT |
50.7±5.2Lowest 18% above VT |
| Mendon and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Washington and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Mendon and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Mendon and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Mendon and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$996±$285 19% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 10% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$3,485 31% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None 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.