Compare towns
Pownal vs Mendon vs Stamford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pownal has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Stamford 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.
| Measure | Pownal | Mendon | Stamford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,265Highest |
1,113 |
963Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49±9.1Lowest 14% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
49.4±5.5 15% above VT |
| Mendon and Stamford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.1%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stamford and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.5%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Stamford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,163±$21kLowest 21% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$88,646±$9k 9% above VT |
| Mendon and Stamford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,600±$32kLowest 19% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$303,200±$25k 4% below VT |
| Mendon and Stamford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,583±$935Highest 28% above VT |
| Stamford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$5,113 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.6%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
95.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
31 minHighest 30% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Pownal 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 | #67 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — | Stamford School District |
| 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.