Compare towns
Westmore vs Mendon vs Benson vs Baltimore
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westmore has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Baltimore has the most affordable homes ($219k 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 | Westmore | Mendon | Benson | Baltimore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 465 |
1,113Highest |
784 |
361Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 19% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
51.2±10.3Lowest 19% above VT |
| Mendon and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
8.9%±6.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westmore and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
25.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,188±$11k 7% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$107,500±$16kHighest 32% above VT |
| Baltimore and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,000±$137k 4% above VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$219,400±$27kLowest 31% below VT |
| Mendon and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,050±$820Lowest 15% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
— |
| Mendon and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,357Highest 6% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,329 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35%±94.2 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
26.7%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
1.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 49% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school 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.