What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).

Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Waltham	Mendon
People
Population	452Lowest	1,113Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+8.5% VT: +2.8%
Median age	60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT	53.4±10.5Lowest 24% above VT
	Waltham and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9%	14.6%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9%
	Mendon and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4%	29%±1.3Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39%Lowest VT: 43.8%	49.4%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.1 VT: 7%	3.1%±2.1 VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,500±$14kLowest 20% above VT	$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT
	Mendon and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$329,700±$51kLowest 4% above VT	$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT
	Mendon and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$113Lowest 11% below VT	$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average
	Mendon and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,714Highest 13% above VT	$5,342Lowest 6% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±58.6Lowest VT: 48.4%	88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4%
	Mendon and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%	8.2%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%	92.2%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT	1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 18% above VT	17 minLowest 28% below VT
Work from home	20.6%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9%	22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9%
	Mendon and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.