Compare towns
Reading vs Berlin vs Ripton vs West Fairlee
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%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
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 | Berlin | Ripton | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
2,880Highest |
508Lowest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| Reading and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Berlin 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% |
26.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and West Fairlee 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% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$76,500±$16kLowest 6% below VT |
| Ripton and Berlin 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 |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
| Ripton 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 |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
— | $1,113±$171 10% below VT |
| Berlin and West Fairlee 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 |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,210 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Ripton 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% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Ripton 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 | — | #16 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.