Compare towns
Newfane vs Middlesex vs Mendon vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Middlesex has the youngest population (median age 44.4).
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.
| Measure | Newfane | Middlesex | Mendon | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
1,943Highest |
1,113 |
820Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
| Newfane and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
| Middlesex and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49kLowest 10% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Middlesex and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,230±$651Lowest about the VT average |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,174 about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest 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 | 10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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.