Compare towns
Craftsbury vs Reading vs Wolcott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Craftsbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.4%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Wolcott has the most affordable homes ($221k 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 | Craftsbury | Reading | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,352 |
699Lowest |
1,507Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.5±4.6Lowest 4% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
| Reading and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wolcott and Craftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.7%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Craftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
31.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 12.4%±2.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,672±$16k 3% above VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
| Reading and Craftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $270,500±$44k 15% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$221,300±$23kLowest 30% below VT |
| Reading and Craftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,091±$184 12% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$1,059±$118Lowest 14% below VT |
| Reading and Craftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,164 17% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,930Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.9%±29.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Reading 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% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 minLowest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Wolcott School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.