Compare towns
Reading vs Underhill vs Dummerston 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 oldest population (median age 51.1).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Underhill | Dummerston | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
3,141Highest |
2,090 |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| Reading and West Fairlee 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% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Dummerston 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% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 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% |
50.1% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.5%±2Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Underhill 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 |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$76,500±$16kLowest 6% below VT |
| Dummerston and Underhill 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 |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
| Underhill and Reading 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 |
— | $1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,113±$171 10% below VT |
| Dummerston and West Fairlee 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 |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,210 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 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% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Reading 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 | — | #2 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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.