Compare towns
Orwell vs Athens vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Mendon has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Orwell | Athens | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294Highest |
431Lowest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
47.3±6.5Lowest 10% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
| Mendon and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Athens and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
| Mendon and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
| Mendon and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
| Mendon and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — |
| High school 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.