Compare towns
Hartland vs Reading vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartland has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k 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 | Hartland | Reading | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460Highest |
699Lowest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.8±5.1Highest 29% above VT |
51.1±7.6Lowest 19% above VT |
53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
| Hartland and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hartland and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,136±$23kHighest 6% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
| Hartland and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $348,600±$39k 10% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
| Reading and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
| Reading and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,437Highest 28% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.1%±89.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 4% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.4%±6.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #29 of 70 in VT | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartland School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 12 photos → | 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.