Compare towns
Reading vs Tunbridge vs Waterville
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).
Tunbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k 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 | Tunbridge | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699 |
1,253Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
42.7±8.3Lowest about the VT average |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Reading and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Tunbridge and Waterville 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% |
20.9%±1.6 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.9% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Tunbridge 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 |
$89,464±$26kHighest 10% above VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Tunbridge 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 |
$315,300±$23k about the VT average |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Reading and Tunbridge 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 |
$1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,645 8% below VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge 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% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.2% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
31 minLowest 31% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Tunbridge 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 | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None 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.