Compare towns
Alburgh vs Reading vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alburgh has the most renters (23.1% rent).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).
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 | Alburgh | Reading | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 486Lowest |
699 |
1,070Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 32.9±7.3Lowest 24% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±6.8 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Alburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Reading and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,000±$37k 26% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
| Reading and Alburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $189,900±$38k 40% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,721±$250Highest 39% above VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$945±$46Lowest 23% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,931 42% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±29.2 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Alburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 53% above VT |
33 minLowest 41% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Alburgh 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 | Lowell School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.