Compare towns

Reading vs Montgomery vs Middletown Springs

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 most people working from home (22.9%).
Montgomery has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Middletown Springs has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.6%).

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.

MeasureReadingMontgomeryMiddletown Springs
People
Population
699Lowest
1,047Highest
747
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%
VT: +2.8%
-1.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+6.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.1±7.6
19% above VT
51.5±11.3Highest
19% above VT
49.2±5.1Lowest
14% above VT
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%
24%±5.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
Middletown Springs 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%
26.1%±2.5Lowest
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%
VT: 43.8%
52.8%Highest
VT: 43.8%
45.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±2.5
VT: 7%
2.8%±3.2Lowest
VT: 7%
3.2%±1.5Highest
VT: 7%
Middletown Springs 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±$19kHighest
5% above VT
$53,289±$24kLowest
34% below VT
$82,000±$12k
about the VT average
Reading and Middletown Springs 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
$323,200±$45k
about the VT average
$262,200±$24kLowest
17% below VT
Reading and Montgomery 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
$1,208±$438Highest
about the VT average
Middletown Springs and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,754Highest
14% above VT
$4,326Lowest
14% below VT
$4,595
9% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±31.7
VT: 48.4%
76.6%±68Highest
VT: 48.4%
20%±100Lowest
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%
VT: 10.1%
15.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
80.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
7 yrs older than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
41% above VT
37 minHighest
58% above VT
27 minLowest
16% above VT
Work from home
22.9%±10.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
16%±5.9
VT: 16.9%
15.7%±5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Reading and Montgomery 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 Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.