Compare towns

Pittsfield vs Belvidere vs Reading

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pittsfield has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Belvidere has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).

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.

MeasurePittsfieldBelvidereReading
People
Population
391Lowest
422
699Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
+3.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
53.8±3.5Highest
25% above VT
40.7±6.5Lowest
6% below 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
13.6%±8.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
22%±4Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.5%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
Belvidere and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.4%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
8.8%±4Lowest
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+
45.4%
VT: 43.8%
35.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±3.5
VT: 7%
1.4%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5Highest
VT: 7%
Reading and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$65,852±$12kLowest
19% below VT
$81,563±$18k
about the VT average
$85,000±$19kHighest
5% above VT
Reading and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$313,300±$73k
about the VT average
$239,200±$51kLowest
24% below VT
$377,200±$72kHighest
19% above VT
Reading and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,035±$140Lowest
16% below VT
$1,542±$1kHighest
25% above VT
$1,100±$331
11% below VT
Belvidere and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,181
about the VT average
$3,908Lowest
22% below VT
$5,754Highest
14% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
35.6%±43Lowest
VT: 48.4%
66.7%±53.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7
VT: 48.4%
Belvidere and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
76.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
86.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1989Highest
13 yrs newer than VT
1969Lowest
7 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
18% below VT
38 minHighest
60% above VT
33 min
41% above VT
Work from home
28.1%±24.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
9.4%±7.6Lowest
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
School district — — Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school 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.