Compare towns
Andover vs Brookline vs Mendon vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Reading has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
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 | Andover | Brookline | Mendon | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
531Lowest |
1,113Highest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
| Mendon and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Brookline and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the VT average |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| Andover and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
$290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364 13% above VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
| Brookline and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190 about the VT average |
$5,000Lowest about the VT average |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.