Compare towns

Bloomfield vs Reading vs Sheffield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bloomfield has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k 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.

MeasureBloomfieldReadingSheffield
People
Population
234Lowest
699Highest
573
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
41.9±12Lowest
about the VT average
51.1±7.6Highest
19% above VT
42±8
about the VT average
Reading and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
27.4%±14.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.5%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
17.1%±6.6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Bloomfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.2%±8
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±3.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.2%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Reading and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.7%
VT: 43.8%
46%Highest
VT: 43.8%
27.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.9%±4.5Lowest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5
VT: 7%
5.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
Sheffield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$54,375±$17kLowest
33% below VT
$85,000±$19kHighest
5% above VT
$58,333±$26k
28% below VT
Reading and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$190,600±$63k
40% below VT
$377,200±$72kHighest
19% above VT
$171,900±$50kLowest
46% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,100±$331Highest
11% below VT
$967±$79Lowest
22% below VT
Reading and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,800
44% below VT
$5,754Highest
14% above VT
$2,123Lowest
58% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent —
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
61.5%±41.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Reading and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
83.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
5 yrs newer than VT
1969Lowest
7 yrs older than VT
1987Highest
11 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minLowest
28% above VT
33 minHighest
41% above VT
30 min
28% above VT
Work from home
4.6%±4.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
6.1%±2.7
VT: 16.9%
Schools
School district — Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.