Compare towns

Reading vs Williston vs Dix

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 homeowners (81.4%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Dix has the most renters (33.9% rent).

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.

MeasureReadingWillistonDix
People
Population
1,637Lowest
10,144Highest
3,660
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.3±6.4
19% above U.S.
45.4±4.5Lowest
17% above U.S.
50.1±2.8Highest
29% above U.S.
Dix and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.2%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.7%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Williston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.5%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.9%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dix and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
17.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.9Lowest
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
$86,131±$9k
7% above U.S.
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above U.S.
$53,668±$8kLowest
34% below U.S.
Williston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$160,200±$37kLowest
52% below U.S.
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
$165,000±$14k
50% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,507±$514
7% above U.S.
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$718±$172Lowest
49% below U.S.
Williston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,219
3% above U.S.
$5,592Highest
79% above U.S.
$3,141Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±19.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±13.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Williston and Dix are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
66.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
20 min
24% below U.S.
Work from home
11.7%±4.6
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
4.3%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Williston and Reading 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 — #11 of 70 in VT #391 of 484 in NY
School district — Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 WATKINS GLEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town — None in town WATKINS GLEN CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.9
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.