Compare towns
Reading vs Middlesex vs Fair Haven 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%).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Fair Haven | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,943 |
2,724Highest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Fair Haven 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%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Fair Haven 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 |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Middlesex 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±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Reading and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,113±$171 10% below VT |
| Middlesex and West Fairlee 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 |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
$5,210 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | #66 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.