Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Reading vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lunenburg has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Orange 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 | Lunenburg | Reading | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,267Highest |
699Lowest |
957 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.2Highest 19% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
50.3±5.3Lowest 17% above VT |
| Lunenburg and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.4 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Reading and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,125±$9kLowest 35% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
| Reading and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $164,000±$11kLowest 48% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,025±$172Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
| Orange and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,702Lowest 46% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±57.6 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 28% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 minLowest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 4.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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.