Compare towns
Lyndon vs Reading vs Pownal
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyndon has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Pownal has the shortest commute (21 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 | Lyndon | Reading | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,590Highest |
699Lowest |
3,265 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±6.7Lowest 12% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
49±9.1 14% above VT |
| Reading and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.4%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.8%±2Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,786±$6k 15% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below VT |
| Reading and Lyndon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$21kLowest 28% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$256,600±$32k 19% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$123 11% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
| Reading and Lyndon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,846 24% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±15.2 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±18.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Lyndon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Pownal 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 | #44 of 70 in VT | — | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| 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.