Compare towns
Reading vs Sheldon vs Windham vs Middletown Springs
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%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Middletown Springs has the most affordable homes ($262k 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 | Windham | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
2,267Highest |
594Lowest |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +6.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Reading and Middletown Springs 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%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middletown Springs and Sheldon 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Middletown Springs 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% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Middletown Springs 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 |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$82,000±$12k about the VT average |
| Windham 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$262,200±$24kLowest 17% below VT |
| Reading and Windham 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±$379Highest 4% above VT |
— | $1,208±$438 about the VT average |
| Sheldon and Middletown Springs 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 |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,595 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Windham 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% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Windham 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 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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 | 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.