Compare towns
Mendon vs Reading vs Newfields vs Shrewsbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Reading has the most renters (15.1% rent).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Shrewsbury has the most kids (25.1% 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 | Reading | Newfields | Shrewsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
699Lowest |
2,023Highest |
1,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
42.3±5.6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$91,250±$23k 13% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$331,900±$52kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,438±$380 about the U.S. average |
| Newfields and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,342Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,350 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
71.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Reading 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 | Newfields School District | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.