Compare towns
Reading vs Castleton vs Newark
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%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Newark has the most kids (22% under 18).
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 | Newark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
4,453Highest |
727 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
41.4±6 4% below VT |
| Reading and Newark 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
22%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Newark and Castleton 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% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$72,929±$7kLowest 10% below VT |
| Reading and Castleton 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$229,900±$23k 27% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,771 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
34 minHighest 44% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Newark 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| 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.