Compare towns
Reading vs Dover vs Worcester 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 kids (18.5% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Worcester has the youngest population (median age 47).
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 | Dover | Worcester | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,466Highest |
831 |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| Dover 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 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and West Fairlee 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee 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% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Reading and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
| Reading and Dover 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 |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,210 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Dover 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.