Compare towns

Reading vs Dummerston vs Newark

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Newark has the most affordable homes ($230k 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.

MeasureReadingDummerstonNewark
People
Population
699Lowest
2,090Highest
727
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+0.5%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.1±7.6Highest
19% above VT
45.6±11.7
6% above VT
41.4±6Lowest
4% below VT
Reading and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.5%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6
VT: 17.9%
22%±3Highest
VT: 17.9%
Newark and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.2%±3.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3
VT: 21.4%
19.9%±5.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Reading and Dummerston 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%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
41%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±2.5Highest
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1
VT: 7%
0.6%±0.6Lowest
VT: 7%
Reading and Dummerston 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
$101,696±$21kHighest
25% above VT
$72,929±$7kLowest
10% below VT
Dummerston 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
19% above VT
$335,300±$22k
6% above VT
$229,900±$23kLowest
27% below VT
Reading and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,100±$331Lowest
11% below VT
$1,392±$126
13% above VT
$1,708±$97Highest
38% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,754Highest
14% above VT
$4,536
10% below VT
$3,771Lowest
25% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
7.1%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Reading and Dummerston 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%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
22.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
90.8%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
7 yrs older than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
41% above VT
21 minLowest
11% below VT
34 minHighest
44% above VT
Work from home
22.9%±10.6
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
13.8%±8.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Dummerston 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 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
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.