Compare towns
Walden vs Salisbury vs Mendon vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walden has the youngest population (median age 48.8).
Salisbury has the most kids (16.6% under 18).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($357k median).
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 | Walden | Salisbury | Mendon | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
1,200Highest |
1,113 |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2Lowest 13% above VT |
50.6±6.5 17% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
| Mendon and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 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+ | 26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Walden and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below 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 | $238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Mendon and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
| Salisbury and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944 22% below VT |
$4,842 4% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% above VT |
19 min 20% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.