Compare towns

Coventry vs Windham vs Reading vs Sheffield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Coventry has the most kids (20.2% under 18).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k 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.

MeasureCoventryWindhamReadingSheffield
People
Population
917Highest
594
699
573Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.3%
VT: +2.8%
—
+3.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.2±5.2
5% above VT
44.2±7.4
about the VT average
51.1±7.6Highest
19% above VT
42±8Lowest
about the VT average
Reading and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.2%±4.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
18.5%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
17.1%±6.6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Coventry and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.5%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±3.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.2%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
46%
VT: 43.8%
27.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±3.5
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5
VT: 7%
5.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
Sheffield and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$59,342±$3k
27% below VT
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
$85,000±$19k
5% above VT
$58,333±$26kLowest
28% below VT
Windham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$197,900±$55k
37% below VT
$353,900±$20k
12% above VT
$377,200±$72kHighest
19% above VT
$171,900±$50kLowest
46% below VT
Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$755±$108Lowest
39% below VT
—
$1,100±$331Highest
11% below VT
$967±$79
22% below VT
Reading and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,375
53% below VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
$5,754
14% above VT
$2,123Lowest
58% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
1.5%±27.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
61.5%±41.2
VT: 48.4%
Reading and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
19.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
8.4%
VT: 10.1%
6.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
83.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1969Lowest
7 yrs older than VT
1987
11 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
53% above VT
27 minLowest
14% above VT
33 min
41% above VT
30 min
28% above VT
Work from home
8.6%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
6.1%±2.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Coventry School District — Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
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.