Compare towns
Ira vs Reading vs West Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k 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 | Ira | Reading | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 381Lowest |
699 |
711Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
50.3±7.6Lowest 17% above VT |
| Ira and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ira and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| 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 | $272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,210 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 20% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 Our Story | 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.