Compare towns
West Windsor vs Highgate vs Mendon vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
Highgate has the most affordable homes ($281k median).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Highgate | Mendon | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,171 |
3,528Highest |
1,113 |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +22.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54±5.9Highest 25% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
| 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%±10Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 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+ | 59.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| West Windsor and Mendon 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 34% above VT |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| 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 24% above VT |
$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
| 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 11% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| 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 16% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 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 | 3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±3.2 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mount Ascutney School District #86 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.