Compare towns
Halifax vs Williston vs Mendon vs Marlboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Mendon has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
Marlboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+59.7%).
Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Halifax | Williston | Mendon | Marlboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,113 |
1,362 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
+59.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT |
| Mendon and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
12%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.8%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
53.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$77,135±$10k 5% below 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 | $267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$357,300±$55k 13% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,600±$824 30% above VT |
| Williston and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991Lowest about the VT average |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$5,640Highest 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.1%±43.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 38% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
17 min 26% below VT |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
26%±11.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Marlboro 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 | Halifax School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | Marlboro School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.