Compare towns
Reading vs Walden 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).
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
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 | Walden | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,037 |
1,113Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
48.8±3.2Lowest 13% above 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% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 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% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest 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% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Walden 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 VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
| Mendon and Walden 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 |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% 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 |
$900±$136Lowest 27% 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 |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Lowest 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% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.