Compare towns

Dummerston vs Newark vs Reading

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Newark has the most affordable homes ($230k median).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

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.

MeasureDummerstonNewarkReading
People
Population
2,090Highest
727
699Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+0.5%
VT: +2.8%
+3.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.6±11.7
6% above VT
41.4±6Lowest
4% below VT
51.1±7.6Highest
19% above VT
Reading and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.7%±6
VT: 17.9%
22%±3Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.5%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Newark and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.3%±3
VT: 21.4%
19.9%±5.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±3.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
Reading and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
41%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.1
VT: 7%
0.6%±0.6Lowest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5Highest
VT: 7%
Reading and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,696±$21kHighest
25% above VT
$72,929±$7kLowest
10% below VT
$85,000±$19k
5% above VT
Dummerston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$335,300±$22k
6% above VT
$229,900±$23kLowest
27% below VT
$377,200±$72kHighest
19% above VT
Reading and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,392±$126
13% above VT
$1,708±$97Highest
38% above VT
$1,100±$331Lowest
11% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,536
10% below VT
$3,771Lowest
25% below VT
$5,754Highest
14% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
7.1%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
Reading and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
22.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.4%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
90.8%
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1969Lowest
7 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
11% below VT
34 minHighest
44% above VT
33 min
41% above VT
Work from home
25.9%±10.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
13.8%±8.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6
VT: 16.9%
Dummerston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
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

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.