Compare towns
Reading vs Strafford vs Williston vs West Fairlee
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 kids (23% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k 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 | Williston | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,372 |
10,144Highest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Williston 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%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$76,500±$16kLowest 6% below VT |
| Strafford and Williston 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±$40k 36% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
| Williston and Strafford 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 |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,113±$171 10% below VT |
| Williston 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 |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$5,210Lowest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and West Fairlee 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Strafford School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| 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.