What stands out worked out from the figures below

Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).

Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Reading	Waltham
People
Population	699Highest	452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	51.1±7.6Lowest 19% above VT	60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT
	Waltham 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%	12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Reading and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.2%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4%	45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46%Highest VT: 43.8%	39%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.5 VT: 7%	3.1%±2.1 VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT	$97,500±$14kHighest 20% above VT
	Waltham 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	$329,700±$51kLowest 4% above VT
	Reading and Waltham 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	$1,096±$113Lowest 11% below VT
	Reading and Waltham 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	$5,714Lowest 13% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4%	29.2%±58.6Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Reading and Waltham 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%	5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	86.3%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT	1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 41% above VT	28 minLowest 18% above VT
Work from home	22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9%	20.6%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Reading and Waltham 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	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.