Compare towns
Reading vs Sheldon vs Westminster 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k 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 | Sheldon | Westminster | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
2,267 |
2,999Highest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| Westminster 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee 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% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Westminster 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Reading and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
| Reading and Westminster 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 |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,113±$171 10% below VT |
| Sheldon and West Fairlee 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$5,210 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and West Fairlee 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.