Compare towns
Reading vs Ripton vs Webster vs West Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k 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 | Ripton | Webster | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
508Lowest |
2,227Highest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
50.3±7.6 29% above U.S. |
| Reading and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14k 33% above U.S. |
$76,500±$16kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30k about the U.S. average |
$237,200±$35kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,113±$171 21% below U.S. |
| Webster and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,210 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±89.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Merrimack Valley School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.