Compare towns
Danby vs Reading vs Pawlet vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Pawlet has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Reading | Pawlet | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133 |
699Lowest |
1,480Highest |
1,200 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
47.9±7.5Lowest 11% above VT |
50.6±6.5 17% above VT |
| Danby and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Salisbury 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.5% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Pawlet and Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$99,688±$21kHighest 23% above VT |
| Salisbury and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$266,200±$44kLowest 16% below VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
| Reading and Salisbury 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,153±$215 7% below VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
| Salisbury and Pawlet 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,842 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Pawlet 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 | Mettawee School District #84 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None 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.