What stands out worked out from the figures below

Leicester has the most affordable homes ($310k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Leicester	Mendon
People
Population	1,026Lowest	1,113Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	48.8±3.8Lowest 13% above VT	53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT
	Mendon and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.9%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9%	14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Leicester and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.5%±6.7Lowest VT: 21.4%	29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4%
	Mendon and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%	49.4%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%	3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7%
	Mendon and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,417±$30kLowest 13% below VT	$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT
	Mendon and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$309,700±$107kLowest about the VT average	$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT
	Mendon and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,098±$300Lowest 11% below VT	$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average
	Mendon and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,822Lowest 24% below VT	$5,342Highest 6% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±40.4Lowest VT: 48.4%	88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4%
	Mendon and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.8%Highest VT: 10.1%	8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Lowest VT: 73.2%	92.2%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT	1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 20% above VT	17 minLowest 28% below VT
Work from home	12.7%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9%	22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9%
	Mendon and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.