Compare towns
Reading vs Hingham vs West Fairlee vs West Windsor
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 the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
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 | Hingham | West Fairlee | West Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
24,283Highest |
711 |
1,171 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+22.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Lowest 24% above U.S. |
50.3±7.6 29% above U.S. |
54±5.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
| West Windsor 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% |
23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±10 U.S.: 22% |
| Hingham and West Windsor 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%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±6.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$178,390±$15kHighest 121% above U.S. |
$76,500±$16kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$108,750±$18k 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
$237,200±$35kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$393,500±$41k 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,113±$171 21% below U.S. |
$1,100±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,210Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$5,860 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±89.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hingham 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 | — | #14 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Hingham | Rivendell Interstate School District | Mount Ascutney School District #86 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hingham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— | — |
| 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.