Compare towns
Reading vs Strafford vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
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).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
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 | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,372Highest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
46.4±7.1Lowest 8% 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% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham 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% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest 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±$19k 5% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below 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±$72k 19% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$262,300±$30kLowest 17% below 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±$331 11% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% 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 | $5,754 14% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,055Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Whitingham 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
| 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.