What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

Bradford has the most kids (20.1% 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.

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

Measure	Mendon	Bradford
People
Population	1,113Lowest	2,827Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8%	-0.3%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT	42.7±3.1Lowest about the VT average
	Mendon and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	20.1%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9%
	Bradford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4%	22.9%±5.8Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Mendon and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.4%Highest VT: 43.8%	36.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7%	0.7%±1Lowest VT: 7%
	Mendon and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,524±$23kLowest 24% above VT	$108,162±$15kHighest 33% above VT
	Bradford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT	$258,600±$30kLowest 18% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average	$1,221±$808Lowest about the VT average
	Mendon and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,342Highest 6% above VT	$4,472Lowest 11% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4%	27.9%±23.4Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Mendon and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest VT: 10.1%	2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.2%Highest VT: 73.2%	87.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT	1976Lowest same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 28% below VT	25 minHighest 4% above VT
Work from home	22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9%	7.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#45 of 70 in VT
School district	—	Oxbow Unified Union School District #91
High school in town	—	Oxbow Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.