Compare towns
Reading vs Williston vs Dix vs Starkey
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).
Starkey has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Williston | Dix | Starkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,637Lowest |
10,144Highest |
3,660 |
3,381 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±6.4 19% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
50.1±2.8Highest 29% above U.S. |
41.3±2.5Lowest 6% 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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Starkey and Williston 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%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.7%±3Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.4%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%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$55,064±$7k 32% 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±$37k 52% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$165,000±$14k 50% below U.S. |
$145,700±$17kLowest 56% 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. |
$744±$96 47% 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 |
$3,412 9% above U.S. |
| 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% |
45%±14.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Starkey 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.7%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% |
73.3% 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. |
1966 14 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. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
14.9%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Starkey 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 | #358 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | WATKINS GLEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | DUNDEE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None in town | WATKINS GLEN CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL | DUNDEE JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.9Highest |
8.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.