Compare towns
Poultney vs Reading vs Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 34).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k 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 | Poultney | Reading | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,010Highest |
699Lowest |
1,145 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 34±5.6Lowest 13% below U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
| Reading and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,617±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
| Reading and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $206,200±$18k 38% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $913±$84Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,520 13% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.3%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Poultney 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 | #41 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school in town | Poultney High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.