Compare towns
Mendon vs Reading vs Franklin
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%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($247k 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 | Mendon | Reading | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,113 |
699Lowest |
1,590Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest 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+ | 29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest 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% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$79,917±$21kLowest about the VT average |
| 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$247,400±$66kLowest 22% below 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±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
| Mendon and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Lowest 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 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| 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.