Compare towns
Reading vs Montgomery vs Worcester vs West Windsor
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 renters (19.3% rent).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
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 | Worcester | West Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,047 |
831 |
1,171Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+22.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
54±5.9Highest 25% above VT |
| West Windsor and Montgomery 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%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±10Highest VT: 17.9% |
| West Windsor 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±6.7 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% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
59.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
6.1%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and West Windsor 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 |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$108,750±$18kHighest 34% above VT |
| West Windsor 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±$45k about the VT average |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$393,500±$41kHighest 24% above VT |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,100±$217Highest 11% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 14% above VT |
$4,326Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$5,860Highest 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
0%±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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
28 minLowest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±3.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | Mount Ascutney School District #86 |
| High school in town | None 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.