What stands out worked out from the figures below

Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).

Essex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Reading	Essex
People
Population	699Lowest	11,516Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+12.8%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT	42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average
	Reading and Essex 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%	22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9%
	Essex and Reading 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%	19.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46%Lowest VT: 43.8%	57.6%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7%	2.8%±1.2Lowest VT: 7%
	Reading and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT	$110,199±$14kHighest 36% above VT
	Essex 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±$72kLowest 19% above VT	$447,300±$14kHighest 41% above VT
	Essex and Reading 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	$1,569±$138Highest 27% above VT
	Essex and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,754Lowest 14% above VT	$6,602Highest 31% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4%	45.9%±13.1Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Reading and Essex 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%	5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	75.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT	1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 41% above VT	22 minLowest 6% below VT
Work from home	22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9%	21.5%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Reading and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#13 of 70 in VT
School district	Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.