Compare towns
Reading vs Burke vs Strafford
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%).
Burke has the youngest population (median age 41.1).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Burke | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,317 |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
41.1±4.8Lowest 5% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford 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 VT: 17.9% |
23%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±2.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Strafford 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% |
41.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.3 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Burke 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 VT |
$87,143±$17k 7% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Burke 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 |
$340,600±$18kLowest 8% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$938±$191Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$5,177Lowest about the VT average |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
74.6%±31Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Burke 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% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.6% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Burke 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None 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.