Compare towns
Wardsboro vs Mendon vs Putney
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 kids (18.8% under 18).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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 | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 820Lowest |
1,113 |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below 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%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Putney 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest 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% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Mendon and Putney 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±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Mendon and Putney 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Mendon 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 |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 14% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None 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.