Compare towns

Hampton vs Reading vs West Fairlee

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
West Fairlee has the most homeowners (91.9%).

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.

MeasureHamptonReadingWest Fairlee
People
Population
1,145Highest
699Lowest
711
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±14.7Lowest
11% above U.S.
51.1±7.6Highest
31% above U.S.
50.3±7.6
29% above U.S.
Reading and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.9%±6.9
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.5%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Reading and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.2%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
29.7%±6.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
West Fairlee and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
15.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Hampton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,796±$8kLowest
9% below U.S.
$85,000±$19kHighest
5% above U.S.
$76,500±$16k
5% below U.S.
Reading and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$166,800±$10kLowest
50% below U.S.
$377,200±$72kHighest
13% above U.S.
$237,200±$35k
29% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,264±$375Highest
11% below U.S.
$1,100±$331Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,113±$171
21% below U.S.
Hampton and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,007Lowest
4% below U.S.
$5,754Highest
84% above U.S.
$5,210
67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
13.2%±25.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±31.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50%±89.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Reading and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
28 min
7% above U.S.
Work from home
7.8%±8.4
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.5%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Reading and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.