Compare towns
Reading vs Stark vs West Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Stark has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
West Fairlee has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Stark | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699 |
419Lowest |
711Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
58.8±3.6Highest 51% above U.S. |
50.3±7.6Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Stark and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
17.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stark 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 U.S. |
$71,750±$23kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$76,500±$16k 5% below U.S. |
| Reading and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$197,700±$34kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$237,200±$35k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,113±$171Highest 21% below U.S. |
| West Fairlee and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$2,636Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$5,210 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±89.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stark and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Stark 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 | Stark School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.