Compare towns
Reading vs Middlesex vs Andover vs Wardsboro
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).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Andover has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Wardsboro has the most affordable homes ($299k 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 | Middlesex | Andover | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
1,943Highest |
616Lowest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Wardsboro 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Wardsboro 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$102,500±$38k 26% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
| Middlesex and Andover 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 |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
$299,300±$47kLowest 5% below VT |
| Andover 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 |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,389±$364 13% above VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Andover 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
| Andover 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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 | 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.