Compare towns
Reading vs Cavendish vs Mendon vs West Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Cavendish has the youngest population (median age 45.2).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k 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 | Reading | Cavendish | Mendon | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,242Highest |
1,113 |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% 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 | 18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cavendish and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$76,500±$16kLowest 6% below VT |
| Mendon and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$237,200±$35kLowest 25% 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 | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,113±$171 10% below VT |
| Mendon and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$5,210 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 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 | 8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.