Compare towns
Reading vs Sutton vs Derby
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%).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 46.6).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k 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 | Sutton | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
790 |
4,537Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
| Derby and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Sutton 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% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Reading and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
| Reading and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
— | $1,096±$118Lowest 11% below VT |
| Reading and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Derby 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% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
30 minLowest 26% above VT |
32 min 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Sutton 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 | — | — | #52 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.