What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wheeler has the most kids (40.9% under 18).

Mendon has the most expensive homes ($357k 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.

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

Measure	Wheeler	Mendon
People
Population	1,195Highest	1,113Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	33.3±13.6Lowest 14% below U.S.	53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S.
	Mendon and Wheeler are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	40.9%±24.3Highest U.S.: 22%	14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Wheeler and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	12.4%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mendon and Wheeler are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,688±$14kLowest 26% below U.S.	$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$119,400±$16kLowest 64% below U.S.	$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,341±$150Highest 5% below U.S.	$1,230±$651Lowest 13% below U.S.
	Wheeler and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,573Lowest 18% below U.S.	$5,342Highest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	15.4%±36.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mendon and Wheeler are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	35%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	21.8%±23.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mendon and Wheeler 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

U.S. 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.