Compare towns
Reading vs Springfield vs Dummerston 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 expensive homes ($377k median).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Middletown Springs has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.6%).
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 | Dummerston | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
9,084Highest |
2,090 |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+6.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
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%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middletown Springs and Dummerston 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% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 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% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±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 |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$82,000±$12k about the VT average |
| Dummerston 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$262,200±$24k 17% below VT |
| Reading and Dummerston 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 |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,208±$438 about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Middletown Springs 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 |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,595 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Springfield 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town | 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.