Compare towns
Burke vs Whitingham vs Reading vs Kirby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burke has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Kirby has the most kids (30% 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 | Burke | Whitingham | Reading | Kirby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,317 |
1,368Highest |
699Lowest |
756 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 41.1±4.8 5% below VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
38.8±7.1Lowest 10% below VT |
| Reading and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±4 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
30%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Kirby and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4% VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4.6%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Kirby and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,143±$17kHighest 7% above VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$54,792±$21kLowest 33% below VT |
| Burke and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,600±$18k 8% above VT |
$262,300±$30kLowest 17% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$302,900±$63k 4% below VT |
| Reading and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $938±$191 24% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,250±$326Highest about the VT average |
| Kirby and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,177 about the VT average |
$5,055 about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,597Lowest 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.6%±31Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
25%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Burke and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10% VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
21.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
34 min 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±9.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Burke and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8 |
— | — |
| 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.