Compare towns
Addison vs Reading vs Sharon vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Addison has the highest household income ($107k).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Sharon has the most kids (21% under 18).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
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 | Addison | Reading | Sharon | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,175 |
699 |
1,577Highest |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 53.1±7.6 23% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
| Waltham and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±1.9 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Addison and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$7kHighest 31% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$84,375±$17kLowest 4% above VT |
$97,500±$14k 20% above VT |
| Addison and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$23k 14% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$329,700±$51kLowest 4% above VT |
| Reading and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$461Highest 64% above VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,386±$155 12% above VT |
$1,096±$113Lowest 11% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,831 16% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$5,714Lowest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±62.8 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
26 minLowest 12% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Sharon School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.