Compare towns
Wardsboro vs Mendon vs Middlesex vs Leicester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wardsboro has the most affordable homes ($299k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Leicester has the most renters (14.5% rent).
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 | Mendon | Middlesex | Leicester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 820Lowest |
1,113 |
1,943Highest |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-10%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
48.8±3.8 13% 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% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±6.7 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% VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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 |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$70,417±$30k 13% below VT |
| Middlesex and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $299,300±$47kLowest 5% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$309,700±$107k about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,098±$300Lowest 11% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,345 14% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,822Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±40.4 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Mendon 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school 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.