Compare towns
Reading vs Cornish vs Fair Haven
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%).
Cornish has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Cornish | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,816 |
2,724Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Cornish and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fair Haven 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fair Haven 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±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Cornish 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±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Reading and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Reading 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. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$3,865Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Cornish 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 | — | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Cornish School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.