Compare towns
Reading vs Underhill vs Sheldon
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 expensive homes ($446k median).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
3,141Highest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Reading and Sheldon 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% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Sheldon 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% |
17.6%±6 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.5%±2Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest 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±$54kHighest 14% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
| Underhill 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 |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% 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 |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Reading 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Underhill 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.