Compare towns
Danby vs Reading vs Wallingford vs Pawlet
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).
Wallingford has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Pawlet has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
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 | Wallingford | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133 |
699Lowest |
2,286Highest |
1,480 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
45.9±10.8Lowest 6% above VT |
47.9±7.5 11% 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% |
18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Pawlet 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% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9Highest 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±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
| Reading and Wallingford 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 |
$261,900±$44kLowest 17% below VT |
$266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
| Reading and Danby 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 |
$891±$95 28% below VT |
$1,153±$215Highest 7% below VT |
| Pawlet and Reading 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 |
$4,355 14% below VT |
$3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3 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% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3 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 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Mettawee School District #84 |
| 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.