Compare towns
Reading vs Williston vs Mendon vs Cavendish
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 people working from home (22.9%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Cavendish has the most affordable homes ($285k 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 | Williston | Mendon | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,113 |
1,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% 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%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Cavendish 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
| Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
| Williston 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 |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
| Williston 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 |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Lowest 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| 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 | 18 photos → |
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.