Compare towns
Andover vs Reading vs Townshend
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 highest household income ($103k).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Townshend has the most affordable homes ($287k median).
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 | Reading | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
699 |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1Lowest 14% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Townshend 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Reading and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$78,750±$29kLowest 3% below VT |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
| Andover and Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190Lowest about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Andover 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% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Townshend 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.