Compare towns
Reading vs Moretown 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 population (median age 51.1).
Moretown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Moretown | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,532 |
1,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
46.8±3.8 9% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Reading and Moretown 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% |
17.3%±3.6Lowest 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%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
18%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Calais 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% |
58.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Moretown 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 |
$104,423±$7kHighest 29% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Moretown and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72kLowest 19% above VT |
$380,800±$36k 20% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Calais and Moretown 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 |
$838±$462Lowest 32% 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 |
$5,506Lowest 9% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
16.1%±14.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Calais 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% |
3.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.4Lowest 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | 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 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.