Compare towns
Reading vs Calais vs Elmore
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 population (median age 51.1).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Elmore has the most affordable homes ($316k median).
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 | Calais | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,713Highest |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
| Reading and Elmore 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% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
47.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais 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 VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$98,750±$24k 22% above VT |
| Calais and Elmore 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 |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$315,800±$47kLowest about the VT average |
| Calais and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,225±$263 about the VT average |
| Calais and Elmore 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 |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,066Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Calais 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% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.8%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 |
31 min 32% above VT |
29 minLowest 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| 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 |
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.