Compare towns
Wallingford vs Mendon vs Brighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wallingford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k 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 | Wallingford | Mendon | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 643Lowest |
1,113 |
1,167Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±22.3 11% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT |
| Mendon and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brighton and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±7.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,714±$18k about the VT average |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Mendon and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $239,000±$49k 25% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $927±$140 25% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Mendon and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,743 26% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±16.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 15% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 5.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Brighton School District |
| High school 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.