Compare towns
Reading vs Mendon vs Pittsfield vs Andover
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 kids (18.5% under 18).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Pittsfield has the most affordable homes ($313k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Pittsfield | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
1,113Highest |
391Lowest |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
53.8±3.5Highest 25% above VT |
49.2±5.1Lowest 14% above VT |
| Pittsfield and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±8.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Mendon 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% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Pittsfield 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% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
43.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$65,852±$12kLowest 19% below VT |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
| Andover and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$313,300±$73kLowest about the VT average |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
| Andover and Reading 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 |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,035±$140Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
| Andover and Mendon 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 |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$5,181Lowest about the VT average |
$5,190 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
35.6%±43Lowest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Andover 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.1%±24.1 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Pittsfield 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 | — | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.