Compare towns
Orwell vs Salisbury 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).
Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($307k median).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
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 | Orwell | Salisbury | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294Highest |
1,200 |
1,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7Lowest 10% above VT |
50.6±6.5 17% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
| Mendon and Salisbury 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% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Salisbury and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Orwell and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
| Mendon and Salisbury 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 |
$306,900±$51kLowest 3% 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 |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
| Salisbury and Mendon 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 |
$4,842 4% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 15% above VT |
19 min 20% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Orwell 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.