Compare towns
Chittenden vs Reading vs Stratton vs Pittsford
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 most homeowners (93.5%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Pittsford has the most affordable homes ($197k 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 | Chittenden | Reading | Stratton | Pittsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318 |
699 |
532Lowest |
2,892Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
47.7±6.3 11% above VT |
| Reading and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.4%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Pittsford 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% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 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±$28k 31% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$69,705±$7kLowest 14% below VT |
| Stratton and Chittenden 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±$72k 19% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$197,000±$33kLowest 38% below VT |
| Stratton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488 9% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$781±$167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Stratton and Chittenden 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$3,378Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
18.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 6.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Chittenden 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 | — | — | — | #54 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| 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.