Compare towns
Wardsboro vs Brookline vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the youngest population (median age 45.1).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Wardsboro | Brookline | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 820 |
531Lowest |
1,113Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
| Mendon and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Brookline and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
| Mendon and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
| Mendon and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,479±$224 20% above VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,230±$651Lowest about the VT average |
| Brookline and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | — |
| 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.