Compare towns
Belvidere vs Reading vs Worcester 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 most expensive homes ($377k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Hyde Park has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Worcester | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 422Lowest |
699 |
831Highest |
513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
42.6±10.1 about the VT average |
| Reading and Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest 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% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
16.4%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$18k about the VT average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$89,946±$10kHighest 11% above VT |
| Hyde Park and Reading 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 |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$221,800±$57kLowest 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,421 12% below 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% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% 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 |
1976 same as VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Reading 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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.