Compare towns
West Windsor vs Chenango vs Reading vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
Chenango has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | West Windsor | Chenango | Reading | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,171 |
10,787Highest |
699Lowest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +22.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±5.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
41±2.8Lowest 5% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
| West Windsor and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±10 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Chenango and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Windsor and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,750±$18kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$86,646±$9k 7% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
| West Windsor and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,500±$41kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$172,000±$9kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$217 22% below U.S. |
$1,038±$97Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Mendon and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,860Highest 88% above U.S. |
$3,700Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #233 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | Mount Ascutney School District #86 | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.