Compare towns
Whiting vs Orange vs Mendon vs Hancock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k 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 | Whiting | Orange | Mendon | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
957 |
1,113Highest |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
| Mendon and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
| Mendon and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
| Mendon and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
| Orange and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,227 16% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4% VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 7% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | — | — |
| 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.