Compare towns
Pownal vs Reading vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pownal has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Pownal | Reading | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,265Highest |
699Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49±9.1Lowest 14% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Reading and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,163±$21k 21% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Reading and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,600±$32k 19% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
| Reading and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Pownal 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 | #67 of 70 in VT | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.