Compare towns
Reading vs Strafford vs Wilder
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 highest household income ($111k).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,372 |
3,087Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
45.5±8.9Lowest 6% 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%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest 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% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Wilder 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% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Wilder 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 |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% 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 |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% 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±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT |
| Wilder 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 |
$5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest 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 | 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.