Compare towns
Halifax vs Reading vs Sutton vs Albany
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Albany has the most kids (31% under 18).
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 | Reading | Sutton | Albany |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847 |
699Lowest |
790 |
934Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
42.4±6.2 about the VT average |
| Reading and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
31%±10.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Albany and Halifax 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
16.4%±6.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Halifax 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
6.3%±4.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Albany and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7k 21% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$59,167±$14kLowest 27% below VT |
| Reading and Sutton 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$231,500±$12k 27% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
— | $1,114±$23Highest 10% below VT |
| Albany and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991 about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,093 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44%±65.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Halifax 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
93.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 38% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
28 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20%±11.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Halifax School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.