Compare towns
Reading vs Wayne vs Andover vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Wayne | Andover | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
1,033Highest |
616Lowest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Lowest 26% above U.S. |
51.6±7.3 33% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wardsboro and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Reading and Andover 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 U.S. |
$90,938±$17k 13% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$62,000±$6kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Andover and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$266,700±$150kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$299,300±$47k 10% below U.S. |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,031±$304Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$1,479±$224Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Wardsboro and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$3,967Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
$4,345 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±58 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover 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 | — | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.