Compare towns
Lowell vs Reading vs Albany
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the youngest population (median age 32.9).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Albany has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Lowell | Reading | Albany |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,070Highest |
699Lowest |
934 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
42.4±6.2 about the VT average |
| Reading and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
31%±10.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Albany and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
16.4%±6.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 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 | $57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$59,167±$14k 27% below VT |
| Reading and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$231,500±$12k 27% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46Lowest 23% 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 | $2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,093 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44%±65.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
28 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20%±11.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lowell School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.