Compare towns
Reading vs Bennington vs Andover 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
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
West Windsor has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Bennington | Andover | West Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
9,245Highest |
616Lowest |
1,171 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +22.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
44.5±3Lowest 3% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
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%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±3 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±10Highest VT: 17.9% |
| West Windsor and Reading 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% |
26.9%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Bennington 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% |
34.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
59.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
6.1%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
| West Windsor and Bennington 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 |
$54,257±$12kLowest 33% below VT |
$102,500±$38k 26% above VT |
$108,750±$18kHighest 34% above VT |
| West Windsor and Andover 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 |
$191,700±$28kLowest 39% below VT |
$382,900±$68k 21% above VT |
$393,500±$41kHighest 24% above VT |
| West Windsor and Andover 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 |
$1,115±$57 10% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
$1,100±$217Lowest 11% below VT |
| Andover and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 14% above VT |
$4,331Lowest 14% below VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
$5,860Highest 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
70.4%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Andover 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% |
11.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
54.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1954Lowest 22 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±3.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | — | Mount Ascutney School District #86 |
| 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.