Compare towns
Lowell vs Reading vs Windham vs Kirby
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 most affordable homes ($183k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 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 | Windham | Kirby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,070Highest |
699 |
594Lowest |
756 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
38.8±7.1 10% below VT |
| Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
30%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Kirby 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Kirby 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±$15k 29% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$54,792±$21kLowest 33% below VT |
| Windham and Reading 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 |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$302,900±$63k 4% below VT |
| Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
— | $1,250±$326Highest about the VT average |
| Kirby 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 |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,597 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
25%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
21.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
34 min 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±9.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Kirby 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.