Compare towns
Baltimore 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
Baltimore has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Baltimore | Reading | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 361Lowest |
699 |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.2±10.3 19% above VT |
51.1±7.6Lowest 19% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Baltimore 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Strafford 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% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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±$16k 32% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Baltimore 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
| Strafford and Reading 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 |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Strafford 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% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 9.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.