Compare towns
Reading vs Mount Tabor vs Worcester
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 kids (18.5% under 18).
Mount Tabor has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Mount Tabor | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699 |
304Lowest |
831Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
57.8±10.6Highest 34% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
| Mount Tabor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Worcester 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% |
42.4%±18.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mount Tabor 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% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.6%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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 |
— | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Reading and Worcester 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 |
$420,500±$76kHighest 33% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Mount Tabor 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 |
$2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,233 4% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Worcester 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% |
11%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
46 minHighest 94% above VT |
29 minLowest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school 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.