Compare towns
Pittsfield vs Reading vs Sheldon vs Andover
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).
Reading has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Andover has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Pittsfield | Reading | Sheldon | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 391Lowest |
699 |
2,267Highest |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 53.8±3.5Highest 25% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
49.2±5.1 14% 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%±8.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.5 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 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 |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
| Andover and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
| Andover and Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
| Andover and Sheldon 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.6%±43 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover 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% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 18% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.1%±24.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Pittsfield 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.