Compare towns

Reading vs Marlboro 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Marlboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+59.7%).
West Windsor has the highest household income ($109k).
Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureReadingMarlboroWest Windsor
People
Population
699Lowest
1,362Highest
1,171
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+59.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+22.3%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.1±7.6
19% above VT
22.7±2.1Lowest
47% below VT
54±5.9Highest
25% above VT
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
VT: 17.9%
12%±3.2Lowest
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%±3.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
18.8%±3.7Lowest
VT: 21.4%
25.5%±6.7
VT: 21.4%
Reading and West Windsor 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%
53.7%
VT: 43.8%
59.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
42.7%±4.8Highest
VT: 7%
6.1%±3.6
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$85,000±$19k
5% above VT
$77,135±$10kLowest
5% 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
$357,300±$55kLowest
13% above 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±$331Lowest
11% below VT
$1,600±$824Highest
30% above VT
$1,100±$217Lowest
11% below VT
Marlboro 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
$5,640Lowest
12% above VT
$5,860Highest
16% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
39.1%±43.6
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Reading and Marlboro 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%
7.9%
VT: 10.1%
3.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
84.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
97.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
7 yrs older than VT
1976
same as VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
41% above VT
17 minLowest
26% below VT
28 min
20% above VT
Work from home
22.9%±10.6
VT: 16.9%
26%±11.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±3.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Marlboro 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 Marlboro School District Mount Ascutney School District #86
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.