Compare towns
Cornwall vs Braintree vs Reading vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Reading has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Cornwall | Braintree | Reading | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208Highest |
1,026 |
699Lowest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6Lowest 17% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
| Braintree and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 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+ | 25.7%±6.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cornwall and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$79,803±$5kLowest about the VT average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% 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 | $458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% 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 | $1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
| Mendon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 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 | 0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
26 min 11% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | 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 | 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.