Compare towns
Reading vs Montgomery vs Calais
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).
Montgomery has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | Montgomery | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,047 |
1,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Montgomery 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% |
15.5%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais 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% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery 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% |
52.8% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais 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 |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais 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 |
$323,200±$45kLowest about the VT average |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Calais and Reading 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 |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais 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 |
$4,326Lowest 14% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
31 minLowest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.