Compare towns
Chittenden vs Reading vs Ripton vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chittenden has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Chittenden | Reading | Ripton | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318Highest |
699 |
508Lowest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% 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 | 13.8%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 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+ | 21.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,250±$28k 31% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
| Ripton and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,800±$35kLowest 10% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488 9% below VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
— | $1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
| Mendon and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346 6% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest 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 | 6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 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 | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.