Compare towns

Reading vs Barnard vs West Windsor

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).

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.

MeasureReadingBarnardWest Windsor
People
Population
699Lowest
1,211Highest
1,171
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+4.8%
VT: +2.8%
+22.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.1±7.6
19% above VT
42.4±6Lowest
about the VT average
54±5.9Highest
25% above VT
West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.5%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
26.9%±5.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
19.8%±10
VT: 17.9%
Barnard and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.2%±3.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
22%±3.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
25.5%±6.7
VT: 21.4%
Reading and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
55.3%
VT: 43.8%
59.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±2.5
VT: 7%
2.4%±1.8Lowest
VT: 7%
6.1%±3.6Highest
VT: 7%
West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$85,000±$19kLowest
5% above VT
$97,581±$19k
20% above VT
$108,750±$18kHighest
34% above VT
West Windsor and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$377,200±$72kLowest
19% above VT
$402,600±$71kHighest
27% above VT
$393,500±$41k
24% above VT
Barnard and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,100±$331Lowest
11% below VT
$1,372±$80Highest
11% above VT
$1,100±$217Lowest
11% below VT
Barnard and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,754Lowest
14% above VT
$6,038Highest
20% above VT
$5,860
16% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
27%±19.8
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Reading and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
2.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
3.7%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
85.4%
VT: 73.2%
97.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
7 yrs older than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
41% above VT
29 min
21% above VT
28 minLowest
20% above VT
Work from home
22.9%±10.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
19.3%±10.8
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±3.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Reading and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Mount Ascutney School District #86
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.