Compare towns
Danby vs Pittsfield vs Reading vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pittsfield has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k 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 | Danby | Pittsfield | Reading | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133Highest |
391Lowest |
699 |
1,056 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 22% above VT |
53.8±3.5Highest 25% above VT |
51.1±7.6Lowest 19% above VT |
52.9±5.1 23% above VT |
| Pittsfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±8.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6Lowest 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+ | 34.8% VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.5 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
| Reading and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$65,852±$12kLowest 19% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$66,103±$8k 19% below VT |
| Reading and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$313,300±$73k about the VT average |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
| Reading and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,035±$140 16% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$996±$285 19% below VT |
| Reading and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 10% below VT |
$5,181 about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
35.6%±43 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.1%±24.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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.