Compare towns
Reading vs Fairlee vs Strafford
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%).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Fairlee | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,066 |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Lowest 19% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Fairlee and Strafford 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% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Strafford 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 |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
| Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 14% above VT |
$5,617Lowest 11% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest 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% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District |
| 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.