Compare towns
Reading vs Ripton vs Mendon vs Woodstock
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Woodstock has the most expensive homes ($582k 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 | Ripton | Mendon | Woodstock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
508Lowest |
1,113 |
3,027Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
-1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
56±3.6Highest 30% above VT |
| Woodstock 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Woodstock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
32.7%±5.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Woodstock and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
52.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$120,938±$29kHighest 49% above VT |
| Woodstock and Ripton 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 |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$357,000±$44kLowest 13% above VT |
$582,000±$84kHighest 84% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
— | $1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,430±$346Highest 16% above VT |
| Woodstock and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 14% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$9,449Highest 88% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.7%±17.3Lowest 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
69.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
32.8%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Woodstock and Reading 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 | — | — | — | #10 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Woodstock Union Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.5 |
| 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.