Compare towns

Reading vs Fair Haven vs Andover

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 oldest population (median age 51.1).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).

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.

MeasureReadingFair HavenAndover
People
Population
699
2,724Highest
616Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
51.1±7.6Highest
19% above VT
39.2±7.6Lowest
9% below VT
49.2±5.1
14% above VT
Reading and Andover 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%
19.4%±5.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.5%±4.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Fair Haven 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%
18.4%±4.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
22.7%±4.3
VT: 21.4%
Reading and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46%Highest
VT: 43.8%
23.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
43.3%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±2.5
VT: 7%
4.1%±2.9Highest
VT: 7%
2.8%±1.5Lowest
VT: 7%
Fair Haven 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
$62,404±$16kLowest
23% below VT
$102,500±$38kHighest
26% above VT
Andover 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±$72k
19% above VT
$176,500±$14kLowest
44% below VT
$382,900±$68kHighest
21% above VT
Andover 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
$830±$116Lowest
33% below VT
$1,389±$364Highest
13% above VT
Andover 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
$3,865Lowest
23% below VT
$5,190
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±31.7
VT: 48.4%
50.9%±20.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
69.4%±47.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
Andover and Reading 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%
18.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
82.8%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969
7 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
41% above VT
31 min
31% above VT
25 minLowest
7% above VT
Work from home
22.9%±10.6
VT: 16.9%
4.3%±2.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
29.6%±12.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
Andover and Reading 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 — #66 of 70 in VT —
School district Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 —
High school in town None in town Fair Haven Union Middle and High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 12 photos → 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.