Compare towns
Belvidere vs Reading vs Windham vs Hyde Park
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belvidere has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Hyde Park has the most affordable homes ($222k 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 | Belvidere | Reading | Windham | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 422Lowest |
699Highest |
594 |
513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
42.6±10.1 about the VT average |
| Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±4 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Hyde Park and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
16.4%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2 VT: 7% |
| Reading and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$89,946±$10k 11% above VT |
| Windham and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $239,200±$51k 24% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$221,800±$57kLowest 30% below VT |
| Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
— | $1,306±$285 6% above VT |
| Belvidere and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 22% below VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,893Lowest 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±47.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
7.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Windham 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 | — | — | — | #59 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | — |
| High school 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.