Compare towns
Reading vs Sandgate vs Whitingham vs West Fairlee
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 expensive homes ($377k median).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Whitingham has the youngest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Sandgate | Whitingham | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
435Lowest |
1,368Highest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
46.4±7.1Lowest 8% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| Sandgate 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% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham 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% |
26%±11.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Reading and West Fairlee 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 |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Reading and West Fairlee 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 |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
— | $673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
| West Fairlee 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 |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
$5,210 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Whitingham 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% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Reading 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 | — | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
— |
| 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.