Compare towns
Whitingham vs Wells vs Mendon vs Halifax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitingham has the most renters (14.8% rent).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
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 | Whitingham | Wells | Mendon | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,368Highest |
1,148 |
1,113 |
847Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
| Mendon and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Mendon and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
| Mendon and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$875±$154 29% below VT |
| Wells and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,055 about the VT average |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,991 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 min 62% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
33 min 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | — | Halifax School District |
| High school in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.8 |
— | — | — |
| 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.