Compare towns

Reading vs Dover vs Salisbury vs West Windsor

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
West Windsor has the most homeowners (97.9%).

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.

MeasureReadingDoverSalisburyWest Windsor
People
Population
699Lowest
1,466Highest
1,200
1,171
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+7.5%
VT: +2.8%
+22.3%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.1±7.6
19% above VT
53.5±8.3
24% above VT
50.6±6.5Lowest
17% above VT
54±5.9Highest
25% above VT
West Windsor and Dover 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%
10.2%±5.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
16.6%±3.2
VT: 17.9%
19.8%±10Highest
VT: 17.9%
West Windsor 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%
29.5%±6.2
VT: 21.4%
30.4%±2.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
25.5%±6.7Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Salisbury and Dover 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%
48.9%
VT: 43.8%
34.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
59.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±2.5
VT: 7%
2.5%±2.9
VT: 7%
1.6%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
6.1%±3.6Highest
VT: 7%
West Windsor 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
$52,313±$7kLowest
36% below VT
$99,688±$21k
23% above VT
$108,750±$18kHighest
34% above VT
West Windsor and Salisbury 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
$332,900±$55k
5% above VT
$306,900±$51kLowest
3% below VT
$393,500±$41kHighest
24% above VT
West Windsor 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
$670±$49Lowest
46% below VT
$1,443±$984Highest
17% above VT
$1,100±$217
11% below VT
Salisbury and Reading 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
$4,510Lowest
10% below VT
$4,842
4% below VT
$5,860Highest
16% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
38.1%±17.2
VT: 48.4%
31.9%±22.6
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Reading and Dover 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%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
4.6%
VT: 10.1%
3.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
81.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.7%
VT: 73.2%
97.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969
7 yrs older than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1967Lowest
9 yrs older than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
41% above VT
22 min
6% below VT
19 minLowest
20% below VT
28 min
20% above VT
Work from home
22.9%±10.6
VT: 16.9%
23.2%±11.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
6%±2.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±3.2
VT: 16.9%
Dover 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 River Valleys Unified School District #73 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Mount Ascutney School District #86
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.