Compare towns
Franklin 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
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($247k median).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
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 | Franklin | Reading | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,590Highest |
699Lowest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
51.1±7.6 19% 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 | 23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest 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+ | 21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,917±$21kLowest about the VT average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above 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 | $247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
| Reading and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
| Mendon and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2Lowest 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 | 8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest 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 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.