Compare towns

Mendon vs Putney vs Wardsboro

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% 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.

MeasureMendonPutneyWardsboro
People
Population
1,113
2,622Highest
820Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.1%
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
53.4±10.5Highest
24% above VT
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
51.6±7.3
20% above VT
Mendon and Wardsboro 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%
15.4%±4.1
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±6.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
Wardsboro and Putney 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%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
27.4%±3.1
VT: 21.4%
Mendon and Wardsboro 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%
48.6%
VT: 43.8%
38.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±2.1
VT: 7%
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
0.9%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,524±$23kHighest
24% above VT
$79,706±$18k
about the VT average
$62,000±$6kLowest
24% below VT
Mendon and Putney 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
$300,000±$44k
5% below VT
$299,300±$47kLowest
5% below VT
Mendon and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,230±$651
about the VT average
$508±$482Lowest
59% below VT
$1,479±$224Highest
20% above VT
Wardsboro and Mendon 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
$5,313
5% above VT
$4,345Lowest
14% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
88.6%±42.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
54.2%±19.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
54.5%±58
VT: 48.4%
Mendon and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.2%
VT: 10.1%
16%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
72.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.4%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
1 yr newer than VT
1977Lowest
1 yr newer than VT
1978Highest
2 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
28% below VT
18 min
24% below VT
27 minHighest
14% above VT
Work from home
22.5%±8.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.9%±6.5
VT: 16.9%
13.3%±5.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Mendon and Putney 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 — #32 of 70 in VT —
School district — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 River Valleys Unified School District #73
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.