Compare towns
New Haven vs Reading vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Haven has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
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 | New Haven | Reading | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,792Highest |
699 |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 48±3.9Lowest 11% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
| Waltham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,321±$17k 14% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$97,500±$14kHighest 20% above VT |
| Waltham and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $379,300±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$329,700±$51kLowest 4% above VT |
| New Haven and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$143Highest 6% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,096±$113Lowest 11% below VT |
| New Haven and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,967Highest 18% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,714Lowest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.1%±6.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 7% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.