Compare towns
Calais vs Jericho vs Reading vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Jericho has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k 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 | Calais | Jericho | Reading | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
5,114Highest |
699Lowest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
49.7±5.1 15% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
| Reading and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4% VT: 43.8% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$112,750±$12k 39% above VT |
| Jericho and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$377,200±$72kLowest 19% above VT |
$424,500±$21k 34% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,731±$111 40% above VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Westford and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586 31% above VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$5,754Lowest 14% above VT |
$6,282 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
2.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | — | #6 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.