Compare towns
Reading vs Bowdoin vs West Windsor
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 people working from home (22.9%).
Bowdoin has the most affordable homes ($293k median).
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.
| Measure | Reading | Bowdoin | West Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
3,188Highest |
1,171 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+22.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
44.3±10Lowest 14% above U.S. |
54±5.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±10Highest U.S.: 22% |
| West Windsor and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$91,239±$13k 13% above U.S. |
$108,750±$18kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| West Windsor and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$292,800±$71kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$393,500±$41kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,100±$217 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$3,375Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$5,860Highest 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and West Windsor 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 | — | #28 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | 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 |
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.