Compare towns
Pittsfield vs Westminster 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).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Pittsfield | Westminster | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 391Lowest |
497 |
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 |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.5 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest 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 |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
| Reading and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $313,300±$73kLowest about the VT average |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Westminster 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 |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% 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 |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.6%±43 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest 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% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 18% below VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.1%±24.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Pittsfield and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.