Compare towns
Reading vs Troy vs Worcester
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 expensive homes ($377k median).
Troy has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Troy | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,749Highest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
44.5±5.7Lowest 3% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Reading and Worcester 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% |
21.4%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Troy 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% |
17.7%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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 |
$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Troy 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±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Reading and Worcester 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 |
$3,644Lowest 28% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Troy 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% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | Troy School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.