Compare towns
Reading vs Richmond vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Richmond has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Reading | Richmond | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
4,159Lowest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6Lowest 12% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$108,235±$24k 34% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$432,200±$39kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
— | $1,832±$130Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Reading and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$6,868 120% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Richmond 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #5 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Reading | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.