Compare towns
Reading vs Middlesex vs Cornwall vs Plymouth
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 people working from home (28.4%).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Plymouth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Cornwall | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
1,943Highest |
1,208 |
533Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
52.2±9.6Highest 21% above VT |
| Plymouth 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% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
16.7%±6.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Cornwall 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
32.6%±10.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Plymouth 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$87,614±$8k 8% above VT |
| Cornwall and Middlesex 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 |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$337,900±$21kLowest 7% above VT |
| Cornwall 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±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$1,299±$171 5% above VT |
| Middlesex and Plymouth 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 |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$5,585Lowest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
31.4%±53 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Cornwall 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% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
2.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
78%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Cornwall 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| 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.