Compare towns
Reading vs Northfield vs Mendon
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).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Northfield | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
5,920Highest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% 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% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Northfield 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% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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+ | 46% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
| Mendon and Reading 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 |
$274,400±$21kLowest 13% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above 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 |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
| Mendon and Reading 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 |
$4,878Lowest 3% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest 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% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.