What stands out worked out from the figures below

Reading has the highest household income ($166k).

Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Reading	Stowe
People
Population	25,612Highest	5,285Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S.	46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S.
	Stowe 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%	22.5%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Reading and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stowe 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Reading and Stowe 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.	$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S.	$647,800±$157kLowest 95% above U.S.
	Reading and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S.	$1,458±$242Lowest 3% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,320Highest 199% above U.S.	$7,161Lowest 130% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.8%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Reading and Stowe 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%	9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	24.4%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Reading and Stowe 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	—
School district	Reading	Stowe Town School District
High school in town	Reading Memorial High	Stowe High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	11.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.