Compare towns
Halifax vs Marlboro vs Reading vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Marlboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+59.7%).
Reading has the highest household income ($85k).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Halifax | Marlboro | Reading | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847 |
1,362 |
699Lowest |
1,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% VT: +2.8% |
+59.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
| Reading and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
18.8%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% VT: 43.8% |
53.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$77,135±$10k 5% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
| Reading and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$357,300±$55k 13% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$262,300±$30kLowest 17% below VT |
| Reading and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154 29% below VT |
$1,600±$824Highest 30% above VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Marlboro and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991Lowest about the VT average |
$5,640 12% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
39.1%±43.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 38% above VT |
17 minLowest 26% below VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
26%±11.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Halifax School District | Marlboro School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| 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.