Compare towns
Reading vs Springfield vs Andover 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 oldest population (median age 51.1).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
West Fairlee has the most homeowners (91.9%).
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 | Springfield | Andover | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
9,084Highest |
616Lowest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| Reading and West Fairlee 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% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield 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% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Reading and Andover 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 |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Andover 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Andover and Reading 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 |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
$1,113±$171 10% below VT |
| Andover 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 |
$4,807Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
$5,210 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Reading 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | — | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— | — |
| 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.