Compare towns
West Windsor vs Upton 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%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Reading has the most renters (15.1% rent).
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 | Upton | Reading | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,171 |
8,189Highest |
699Lowest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +22.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±5.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest 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% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,750±$18k 35% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
| Upton and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,500±$41k 18% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$217 22% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% 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 | $5,860 88% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$5,342Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 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. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Mount Ascutney School District #86 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— | — |
| 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.