Compare towns
Reading vs Castleton vs Monkton
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).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Monkton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Castleton | Monkton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47.1±5.4 9% above VT |
| Reading and Monkton 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% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Reading 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±2.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Castleton 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$119,688±$28kHighest 47% above VT |
| Monkton 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$379,900±$18kHighest 20% above VT |
| Monkton 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,301±$120Highest 5% above VT |
| Monkton and Castleton 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,887Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±64Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±4.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Monkton 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| 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.