Compare towns
Reading vs Townshend vs Ripton
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 kids (18.5% under 18).
Townshend has the most affordable homes ($287k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Townshend | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699 |
1,538Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
| Townshend 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% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Townshend 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% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$78,750±$29kLowest 3% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton 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 |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
— |
| Reading and Townshend 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 |
$5,364 6% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Reading 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% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Reading 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1 |
— |
| 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.