Compare towns
Norwich vs Pittsfield vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Pittsfield has the most people working from home (28.1%).
Reading has the most homeowners (84.9%).
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 | Norwich | Pittsfield | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Highest |
391Lowest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
53.8±3.5Highest 25% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
| Pittsfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±8.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Pittsfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Norwich and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$65,852±$12kLowest 19% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$313,300±$73kLowest about the VT average |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,035±$140Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Norwich and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$5,181Lowest about the VT average |
$5,754 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
35.6%±43 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 19% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.1%±24.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Pittsfield and Reading 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | — | 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.