Compare towns
Clarendon vs Reading vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Clarendon has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Chester has the youngest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Clarendon | Reading | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,460 |
699Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.3±4.1Highest 21% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
49.7±4.7Lowest 15% above VT |
| Clarendon and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Clarendon and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,609±$12kLowest 27% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
| Reading and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $220,900±$32kLowest 30% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$305 11% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Reading and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,740Lowest 26% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±27.1 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 33% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Chester 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 | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | Mill River Union High School | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.