Compare towns
Sharon vs Reading vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has the most kids (21% under 18).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k 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 | Sharon | Reading | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577Highest |
699Lowest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% 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 | 21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 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+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17kLowest 4% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above 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 | $346,700±$37kLowest 10% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above 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 | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
| Sharon and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,342Lowest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 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 | 3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest 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 | Sharon School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| 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.