Compare towns
Reading vs Strafford vs Sheldon vs West Windsor
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%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
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 | Strafford | Sheldon | West Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,372 |
2,267Highest |
1,171 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+22.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
54±5.9Highest 25% above VT |
| West Windsor and Strafford 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%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±10 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Strafford 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%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and West Windsor 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% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.1%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
| West Windsor and Strafford 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$108,750±$18k 34% above VT |
| Strafford and West Windsor 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$393,500±$41k 24% above VT |
| Strafford and West Windsor 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±$789 9% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,100±$217Lowest 11% below VT |
| Sheldon and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,860 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±3.2 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Mount Ascutney School District #86 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.