Compare towns
Reading vs Newfane vs Strafford vs Andover
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).
Newfane has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Andover has the youngest population (median age 49.2).
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 | Newfane | Strafford | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
1,456Highest |
1,372 |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
49.2±5.1Lowest 14% above VT |
| Newfane and Strafford 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% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane 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% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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 |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$102,500±$38k 26% above VT |
| Strafford and Andover 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 |
$284,200±$49kLowest 10% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$382,900±$68k 21% above VT |
| Strafford and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
| Andover and Newfane 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 |
$5,174Lowest about the VT average |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover 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% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Andover 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Strafford School District | — |
| 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 | 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.