Compare towns
Reading vs Sheldon vs Calais
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 oldest population (median age 51.1).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Calais has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Sheldon | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Reading and Calais 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Calais 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais 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±$19k 5% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais 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±$72k 19% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Calais 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 11% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 14% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Calais 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.