Compare towns
Groton vs Middlesex vs Reading vs Ryegate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k 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 | Groton | Middlesex | Reading | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 967 |
1,943Highest |
699Lowest |
1,059 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
| Reading and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Groton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
| Middlesex and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$70k 23% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
| Reading and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$908±$236 26% below VT |
| Middlesex and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,659 27% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 29% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 | 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.