Compare towns
Chittenden vs Jay vs Reading vs Goshen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chittenden has the highest household income ($106k).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Goshen has the shortest commute (21 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 | Chittenden | Jay | Reading | Goshen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318Highest |
471 |
699 |
142Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3Lowest 18% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
58.9±8.3Highest 37% above VT |
| Goshen and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.6%±11.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
37.3%±11.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Goshen and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
42.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0%±10Lowest VT: 7% |
| Chittenden and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,250±$28kHighest 31% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$56,250±$33kLowest 31% below VT |
| Chittenden and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,800±$35k 10% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$330,000±$115k 4% above VT |
| Reading and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488Highest 9% below VT |
— | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
— |
| Chittenden and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346 6% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,240 4% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
— |
| Reading and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% VT: 73.2% |
97% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
100%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.