Compare towns
Chittenden vs Reading vs Pittsfield
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).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Pittsfield has the shortest commute (19 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 | Reading | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,318Highest |
699 |
391Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3Lowest 18% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
53.8±3.5Highest 25% 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±8.4Lowest 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±7.1Highest 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% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.5Lowest 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 |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$65,852±$12kLowest 19% 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$313,300±$73kLowest about the VT average |
| 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±$331 11% below VT |
$1,035±$140Lowest 16% 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,181Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
35.6%±43 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% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.1%±24.1Highest 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.