Compare towns
Chittenden vs Pittsfield vs Reading
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).
Pittsfield has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Pittsfield | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,318Highest |
391Lowest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% VT: +2.8% |
-7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3Lowest 18% above VT |
53.8±3.5Highest 25% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
| Pittsfield and Reading 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% |
13.6%±8.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Pittsfield 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% |
45.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 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 |
$65,852±$12kLowest 19% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above 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 |
$313,300±$73kLowest about the VT average |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% 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 |
$1,035±$140Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,100±$331 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 |
$5,181Lowest about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
35.6%±43 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Pittsfield 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% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.1%±24.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Pittsfield 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 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.