Compare towns
Reading vs Salisbury vs Washington
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%).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k 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 | Salisbury | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,200Highest |
1,056 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
50.6±6.5Lowest 17% above VT |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
| Washington 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% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Salisbury 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% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Salisbury 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
31%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
| Reading and Washington 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 |
$99,688±$21kHighest 23% above VT |
$66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
| Salisbury and Reading 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 |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
| Reading and Salisbury 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 |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$996±$285Lowest 19% below VT |
| Salisbury and Reading 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 |
$4,842 4% below VT |
$3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Washington 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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 |
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.