Compare towns
Mendon vs Orange vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
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 | Mendon | Orange | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,113Highest |
957 |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
50.3±5.3Lowest 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 | 14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest 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+ | 49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% 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 | $357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% 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 | $1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
| Orange and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,342 6% above VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest 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 | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest 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 | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | 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.