Compare towns
Reading vs Ryegate vs Wolcott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Ryegate has the youngest population (median age 41.2).
Wolcott has the most renters (20.5% rent).
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 | Ryegate | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,059 |
1,507Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
| Reading and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate and Wolcott 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% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
31.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Wolcott 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 |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
$70,259±$10k 13% below VT |
| Reading and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,059±$118 14% below VT |
| Reading and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
$3,930 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
27 minLowest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Wolcott 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 | — | Wolcott School District |
| 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.