Compare towns
Andover vs Castleton vs Reading vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Reading has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Strafford has the most kids (23% 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 | Andover | Castleton | Reading | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
4,453Highest |
699 |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38k 26% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68k 21% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Andover and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190 about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Reading 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | — | None 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.