Compare towns
Reading vs Washington vs Wells
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).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Washington | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,056 |
1,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
50.7±5.2Lowest 18% above VT |
| Washington 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% |
16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Washington 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% |
24.3%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Reading and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Reading and Wells 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 |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$996±$285Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Reading 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 |
$3,485 31% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Wells 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% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
31 minLowest 31% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Washington 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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.