Compare towns
Pittsfield vs Reading vs Stratton vs Stockbridge
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).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Stockbridge has the most affordable homes ($284k 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.
| Measure | Pittsfield | Reading | Stratton | Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 391Lowest |
699 |
532 |
791Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.8±3.5 25% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
55.3±5.3Highest 28% above VT |
| Stockbridge and Pittsfield 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
9.9%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.9%±3.2 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% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.5 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$77,109±$12k 5% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$283,500±$26kLowest 10% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$1,140±$126 8% below VT |
| Stratton and Stockbridge 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,488Lowest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.6%±43 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.3%±22 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Stockbridge 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 18% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.1%±24.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.6%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Stockbridge 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 | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| 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.