Compare towns
Reading vs Barnet vs Andover vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the most people working from home (55%).
Andover has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Barnet | Andover | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
61Lowest |
616 |
820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | — | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
62.2±45.8Highest 44% above VT |
49.2±5.1Lowest 14% above VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
| Barnet and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
31.1%±29.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
36.1%±44.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% VT: 43.8% |
59.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
0%±23.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| Reading and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$57,917±$16kLowest 29% below VT |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$62,000±$6k 24% below VT |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$204,200±$38kLowest 36% below VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Andover and Reading 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 |
— | $1,389±$364 13% above VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$2,950Lowest 41% below VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
$4,345 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
— | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% VT: 10.1% |
47.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
100%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
— | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
55%±29Highest VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnet and Andover 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 | — | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.