Compare towns
Reading vs Shelburne 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 affordable homes ($377k median).
Shelburne has the most expensive homes ($588k median).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
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 | Shelburne | West Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
7,969Highest |
1,171 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8% VT: +2.8% |
+22.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
50.9±3.2Lowest 18% above 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%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±10 VT: 17.9% |
| Shelburne 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% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±6.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
59.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
6.1%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
| West Windsor and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$108,750±$18k 34% above VT |
| Shelburne 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±$72kLowest 19% above VT |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
$393,500±$41k 24% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,442±$589Highest 17% above VT |
$1,100±$217Lowest 11% below VT |
| Shelburne and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Lowest 14% above VT |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$5,860 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Shelburne 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% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±3.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Reading 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 | — | #8 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 |
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.