Compare towns
Cavendish vs Mendon vs Cornwall vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cavendish has the most affordable homes ($285k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k 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.
| Measure | Cavendish | Mendon | Cornwall | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242Highest |
1,113 |
1,208 |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% 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 | 18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Cornwall and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 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+ | 39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cavendish and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above 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 | $285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
| Cornwall and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Mendon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 21% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | 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.