Compare towns

Orange vs Reading vs West Windsor

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).

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.

MeasureOrangeReadingWest Windsor
People
Population
957
699Lowest
1,171Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.2%
VT: +2.8%
+22.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.3±5.3Lowest
17% above VT
51.1±7.6
19% above VT
54±5.9Highest
25% above VT
West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.6%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.5%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
19.8%±10Highest
VT: 17.9%
West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.4%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±3.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
25.5%±6.7
VT: 21.4%
Reading and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46%
VT: 43.8%
59.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.9Lowest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5
VT: 7%
6.1%±3.6Highest
VT: 7%
West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,302±$13kLowest
12% below VT
$85,000±$19k
5% above VT
$108,750±$18kHighest
34% above VT
West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$222,000±$22kLowest
30% below VT
$377,200±$72k
19% above VT
$393,500±$41kHighest
24% above VT
West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,330±$153Highest
8% above VT
$1,100±$331Lowest
11% below VT
$1,100±$217Lowest
11% below VT
Orange and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,545Lowest
30% below VT
$5,754
14% above VT
$5,860Highest
16% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±87Lowest
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Reading and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.6%
VT: 10.1%
8.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
3.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.8%
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
97.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1969Lowest
7 yrs older than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
19% above VT
33 minHighest
41% above VT
28 min
20% above VT
Work from home
13.5%±4.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±3.2
VT: 16.9%
Reading and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Mount Ascutney School District #86
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.