Compare towns
Andover vs West Fairlee vs Windham vs Reading
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%).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% 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 | West Fairlee | Windham | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
711Highest |
594Lowest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
| Reading and West Fairlee 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% |
13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Reading 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% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest 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 |
$76,500±$16kLowest 6% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| Andover and Windham 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 |
$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above 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 |
$1,113±$171 10% below VT |
— | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
| Andover and West Fairlee 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 |
$5,210 3% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Reading 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.