Compare towns
Sutton vs Mendon vs Reading vs Barton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Barton has the most renters (26.1% rent).
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 | Sutton | Mendon | Reading | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
1,113 |
699Lowest |
2,815Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
44.9±6.5Lowest 4% 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 | 17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±3.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±3.9 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+ | 32.8% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
32.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.9%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$66,250±$16kLowest 18% below 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 | $231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$201,200±$28kLowest 36% below VT |
| Reading and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$793±$70Lowest 36% below VT |
| Mendon and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975 21% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,355Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
39.6%±12.5 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 | 12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
10.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
35 minHighest 50% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±5.7 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 | — | — | — | #38 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Lake Region Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.5 |
| 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.