Compare towns
Mendon vs Reading vs Windsor vs Strafford
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 people working from home (22.9%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
Strafford has the most kids (23% 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 | Windsor | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
699Lowest |
3,554Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
44.8±6.5Lowest 4% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Mendon and Strafford 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% |
19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.4% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
39.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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±$23k 24% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Mendon 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±$72k 19% above VT |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Reading 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 |
$1,026±$89Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Mendon and Strafford 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 |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,209Lowest 3% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 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% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Strafford School District |
| High school 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.