Compare towns
Reading vs Bridgewater 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
Reading has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Wardsboro has the most homeowners (90.4%).
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 | Bridgewater | Andover | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
980Highest |
616Lowest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
49.2±5.1Lowest 14% above VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
| Bridgewater 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% |
12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Reading 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% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater 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±$19k 5% above VT |
$70,272±$3k 13% below VT |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 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 |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% 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±$331 11% below VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% 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 |
$3,418Lowest 32% 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% |
59.7%±39.1 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Reading 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 Our Story | 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.