What stands out worked out from the figures below

Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

Strafford has the shortest commute (23 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Reading	Strafford
People
Population	699Lowest	1,372Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8%	-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51.1±7.6Lowest 19% above VT	51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT
	Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9%
	Strafford 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%	22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Reading and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46%Lowest VT: 43.8%	53.3%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7%	5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7%
	Strafford 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±$19kLowest 5% above VT	$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT
	Strafford 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±$72kLowest 19% above VT	$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT
	Strafford and Reading 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	$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT
	Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,754Lowest 14% above VT	$7,149Highest 42% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4%	44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Reading and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.4%Highest VT: 10.1%	5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	88.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 41% above VT	23 minLowest about the VT average
Work from home	22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9%	16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Reading and Strafford 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	Strafford School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.