Compare towns
Reading vs Bristol vs Dover
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 kids (18.5% under 18).
Bristol has the most renters (28.7% rent).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Bristol | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
3,778Highest |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
47.9±4.8Lowest 11% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
| Dover 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%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Bristol 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% |
21.9%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover 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% VT: 43.8% |
41.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bristol 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 |
$74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Reading and Bristol 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 |
$337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
$332,900±$55kLowest 5% above VT |
| Reading and Bristol 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 |
$1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Bristol and Reading 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 |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Bristol 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% |
10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover 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 | — | #31 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.