Compare towns
Williston vs Wardsboro vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Wardsboro has the most affordable homes ($299k median).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Williston | Wardsboro | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
820Lowest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
| Mendon and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
| Williston and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$299,300±$47kLowest 5% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,479±$224 20% above VT |
$1,230±$651Lowest about the VT average |
| Williston and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.