Compare towns
Dorset vs Windham vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Dorset | Windham | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
594Lowest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest 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+ | 72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Reading and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
| Dorset and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$353,900±$20kLowest 12% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
— | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
| Dorset and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$5,754Lowest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset 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 |
| 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.