Compare towns
Reading vs Exeter vs Arkwright vs West Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Arkwright has the most affordable homes ($171k median).
West Fairlee has the youngest population (median age 50.3).
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 | Exeter | Arkwright | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
913Highest |
859 |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
50.8±7.2 31% above U.S. |
50.3±7.6Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Arkwright 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 U.S. |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$93,000±$26kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$76,500±$16kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Arkwright 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 13% above U.S. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$170,900±$30kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$237,200±$35k 29% below U.S. |
| Reading and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$875±$689 38% below U.S. |
$1,113±$171Highest 21% below U.S. |
| 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 84% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,760 21% above U.S. |
$5,210 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±65.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±89.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Exeter 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 | — | — | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.