Compare towns
Reading vs Springfield vs Lincoln
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%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Lincoln has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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 | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
9,084Highest |
1,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
| Reading and Lincoln 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% |
15.1%±3.7Lowest 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%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Springfield 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% |
43.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Reading and Lincoln 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 |
$96,667±$18kHighest 19% above VT |
| Lincoln 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 |
$365,200±$30k 15% above VT |
| Reading and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
| Reading and Springfield 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 |
$4,807Lowest 5% below VT |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5Lowest 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% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Lincoln 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 | Lincoln Town 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 |
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.