Compare towns
Reading vs Ripton vs Barton 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 most people working from home (22.9%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
West Windsor has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Ripton | Barton | West Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
508Lowest |
730 |
1,171Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+22.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
54±5.9Highest 25% above VT |
| West Windsor 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±10 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and West Windsor 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
6.1%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$108,750±$18k 34% above VT |
| Ripton and West Windsor 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$393,500±$41k 24% above VT |
| Ripton and West Windsor 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 |
— | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,100±$217Highest 11% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 14% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,860Highest 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Barton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 32% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±3.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #38 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Mount Ascutney School District #86 |
| 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.