Compare towns

Athens vs Cornwall vs Mendon vs Readsboro

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athens has the youngest population (median age 47.3).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Readsboro has the most affordable homes ($216k 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.

MeasureAthensCornwallMendonReadsboro
People
Population
431Lowest
1,208Highest
1,113
807
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
+8.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.3±6.5Lowest
10% above VT
50.4±4.6
17% above VT
53.4±10.5Highest
24% above VT
50.7±3.9
18% above VT
Mendon and Readsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.9%±6.5
VT: 17.9%
18.7%±3Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.6%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
6.9%±2.6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Cornwall and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.6%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
25.7%±6.1
VT: 21.4%
29%±1.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.6%±4.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Mendon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.3%
VT: 43.8%
54.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
49.4%
VT: 43.8%
26.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±3Highest
VT: 7%
3.7%±3.1
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3.3%±1.8
VT: 7%
Athens and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$68,438±$30k
16% below VT
$114,583±$32kHighest
41% above VT
$100,524±$23k
24% above VT
$55,268±$12kLowest
32% below VT
Cornwall and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$240,400±$32k
24% below VT
$458,000±$49kHighest
45% above VT
$357,000±$44k
13% above VT
$215,500±$52kLowest
32% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$537
9% below VT
$1,125±$206
9% below VT
$1,230±$651Highest
about the VT average
$724±$32Lowest
41% below VT
Mendon and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,438
8% above VT
$6,726Highest
33% above VT
$5,342
6% above VT
$3,480Lowest
31% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.5%±39
VT: 48.4%
61.9%±65.5
VT: 48.4%
88.6%±42.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
17.4%±24.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Mendon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
0.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.2%
VT: 10.1%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
92.2%
VT: 73.2%
76.4%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1976
same as VT
1977Highest
1 yr newer than VT
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
53% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
17 minLowest
28% below VT
32 min
35% above VT
Work from home
19.3%±7.5
VT: 16.9%
24.4%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
22.5%±8.9
VT: 16.9%
7.8%±3.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Cornwall and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 — Readsboro School District
High school in town — None in town — None in town
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.