Compare towns

Worcester vs Brookline vs Mendon

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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.

MeasureWorcesterBrooklineMendon
People
Population
831
531Lowest
1,113Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
+8.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47±2.7
9% above VT
45.1±2.7Lowest
5% above VT
53.4±10.5Highest
24% above VT
Mendon and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.8%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
20%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.6%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
Brookline and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.5%±2.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
19.6%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
29%±1.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53%Highest
VT: 43.8%
41.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
49.4%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
3.2%±1.6
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Worcester and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below VT
$80,833±$16k
about the VT average
$100,524±$23kHighest
24% above VT
Mendon and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,100±$27kLowest
14% below VT
$290,700±$37k
8% below VT
$357,000±$44kHighest
13% above VT
Mendon and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136Lowest
17% below VT
$1,732±$232Highest
40% above VT
$1,230±$651
about the VT average
Brookline and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,421Lowest
12% below VT
$5,000
about the VT average
$5,342Highest
6% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37Lowest
VT: 48.4%
47.8%±94.7
VT: 48.4%
88.6%±42.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
Mendon and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
6.2%
VT: 10.1%
8.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
same as VT
1975Lowest
1 yr older than VT
1977Highest
1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
22% above VT
28 min
21% above VT
17 minLowest
28% below VT
Work from home
23.6%±4.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
20.6%±5.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.5%±8.9
VT: 16.9%
Worcester and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 — —
High school 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.