Compare towns
Reading vs Cornwall vs Halifax vs West Fairlee
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 most renters (15.1% rent).
Cornwall has the highest household income ($115k).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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 | Cornwall | Halifax | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,208Highest |
847 |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| Reading and Cornwall 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% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Reading 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.9% VT: 43.8% |
44.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cornwall 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 VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Cornwall 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 |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
| Cornwall and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,125±$206Highest 9% below VT |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,113±$171 10% below VT |
| Cornwall 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 14% above VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$4,991Lowest about the VT average |
$5,210 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 min 38% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Cornwall 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Halifax School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.