Compare towns
Reading vs Mendon vs Cornish vs Peacham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Cornish has the most homeowners (94.1%).
Peacham has the most kids (20.7% 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 | Reading | Mendon | Cornish | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,113 |
1,816Highest |
887 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
50.1±5.7Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Peacham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Peacham 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±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$90,000±$28k 11% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$302,000±$64k 9% below U.S. |
| 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 22% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,028±$248Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$5,342Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$5,605 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.2%±16.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Peacham 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 | — | Cornish School District | Peacham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.