Compare towns
Reading vs Conway vs West Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Conway has the most people working from home (29.1%).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k 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 | Conway | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,755Highest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
55.6±3Highest 43% above U.S. |
50.3±7.6Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Conway 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.9%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Conway and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Reading and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$97,250±$11kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$76,500±$16kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Conway 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 13% above U.S. |
$395,900±$25kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$237,200±$35kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Conway 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 22% below U.S. |
$1,800±$990Highest 27% above U.S. |
$1,113±$171 21% below U.S. |
| Conway and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$5,797Highest 86% above U.S. |
$5,210Lowest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.9%±33.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±89.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Conway 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 | Conway | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.