Compare towns
Reading vs Bridgewater 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Bridgewater has the shortest commute (24 min average).
West Fairlee has the most homeowners (91.9%).
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 | Bridgewater | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
980Highest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
50.3±7.6Lowest 17% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest 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±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Reading and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Reading 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 |
$5,210 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Bridgewater 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% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Bridgewater 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 | — | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.