Compare towns
Pittsfield vs Reading vs Worcester
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 391Lowest |
699 |
831Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.8±3.5Highest 25% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% 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%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Pittsfield 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Reading 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±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Reading and Worcester 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±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below 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±$140 16% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Reading and Pittsfield 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 |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.6%±43 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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 | 8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 18% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.1%±24.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Pittsfield and Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school 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.