Compare towns
Elmore vs Windham vs Reading vs Wolcott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Elmore has the most homeowners (92.8%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Wolcott has the most affordable homes ($221k 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 | Elmore | Windham | Reading | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 964 |
594Lowest |
699 |
1,507Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45±3.5 4% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
42.4±5.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Reading and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest 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+ | 47.8% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
31.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Wolcott and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
| Elmore and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,800±$47k about the VT average |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$221,300±$23kLowest 30% below VT |
| Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$263Highest about the VT average |
— | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,059±$118Lowest 14% below VT |
| Elmore and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,066 about the VT average |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$3,930Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±65.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 25% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 minLowest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Wolcott School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.