Compare towns

Reading vs Fairlee vs West Windsor

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 youngest population (median age 51.1).
Fairlee has the most renters (42.5% rent).
West Windsor has the highest household income ($109k).

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.

MeasureReadingFairleeWest Windsor
People
Population
699
54Lowest
1,171Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
+22.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.1±7.6Lowest
19% above VT
63.5±7.6Highest
47% above VT
54±5.9
25% above VT
Fairlee and West Windsor 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%
0%±52.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
19.8%±10Highest
VT: 17.9%
West Windsor 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
VT: 21.4%
37%±54.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
25.5%±6.7Lowest
VT: 21.4%
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%
VT: 43.8%
11.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
59.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±2.5
VT: 7%
0%±26.2Lowest
VT: 7%
6.1%±3.6Highest
VT: 7%
West Windsor 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
$21,071±$13kLowest
74% below VT
$108,750±$18kHighest
34% above VT
West Windsor 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
$277,500±$28kLowest
12% below VT
$393,500±$41kHighest
24% above VT
West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,100±$331Highest
11% below VT
$1,057±$620Lowest
14% below VT
$1,100±$217Highest
11% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,754
14% above VT
$3,750Lowest
26% below VT
$5,860Highest
16% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±31.7
VT: 48.4%
100%±55.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Fairlee 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%
50%Highest
VT: 10.1%
3.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
57.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
97.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969
7 yrs older than VT
1942Lowest
34 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
41% above VT
—
28 minLowest
20% above VT
Work from home
22.9%±10.6
VT: 16.9%
23.5%±30.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±3.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Fairlee 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 — Mount Ascutney School District #86
High school 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.