Compare towns
Reading vs Jericho vs West Fairlee
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%).
Jericho has the highest household income ($117k).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
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 | Jericho | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
5,114Highest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
49.7±5.1Lowest 15% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| Reading and West Fairlee 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% |
19.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Jericho 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% |
20.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Reading and West Fairlee 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 |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$76,500±$16kLowest 6% below VT |
| Jericho 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 |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
$1,113±$171 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 14% above VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$5,210Lowest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Jericho 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 | — | #6 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0 |
— |
| 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.