Compare towns
Baltimore vs Fairlee vs Reading vs West Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Baltimore has the highest household income ($108k).
Fairlee has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
West Haven has the most homeowners (90.3%).
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 | Baltimore | Fairlee | Reading | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 361 |
1,066Highest |
699 |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.2±10.3 19% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
51.1±7.6Lowest 19% above VT |
54±10.5 25% above VT |
| Fairlee and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 8.9%±6.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±13.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.9%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
30.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2.7 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,500±$16kHighest 32% above VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$85,250±$29k 5% above VT |
| Baltimore and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,400±$27kLowest 31% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$245,000±$34k 23% below VT |
| Reading and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
— |
| Reading and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,329Lowest 14% below VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,485 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±100 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
10.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Fairlee 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 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.