Compare towns
Reading vs Dorset 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).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Dorset | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
2,092Highest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| Reading and West Fairlee 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% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Reading 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% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest 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% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Reading and Dorset 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 |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$76,500±$16kLowest 6% below VT |
| Dorset 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 |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,113±$171 10% below VT |
| Dorset 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 |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$5,210Lowest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset 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% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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 |
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.