Compare towns
Montpelier vs Reading vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% rent).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Montpelier | Reading | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,014Highest |
699Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.4Lowest about the VT average |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Reading and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,030±$6kLowest about the VT average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,100±$21kLowest 18% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Reading and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$113 6% above VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$5,754Lowest 14% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 23% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 26.9%±5 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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 | #9 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Montpelier High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.