Compare towns
Whiting vs Putney vs Mendon vs Athens
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).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Mendon has the most homeowners (92.2%).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k 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 | Putney | Mendon | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
2,622Highest |
1,113 |
431Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
| Mendon and Athens 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% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Putney 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% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$240,400±$32kLowest 24% 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 | $1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$537 9% below VT |
| Mendon and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,227Lowest 16% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 7% below VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Athens 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.