Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Mendon vs Reading vs Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Fairlee has the most renters (19.1% rent).
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 | Bridgewater | Mendon | Reading | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980 |
1,113Highest |
699Lowest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
51.1±7.6Lowest 19% above VT |
56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Mendon and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
| Reading and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Mendon and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Mendon 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None 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.