Compare towns
Reading vs Wells vs Sheffield
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 people working from home (22.9%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k 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 | Wells | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699 |
1,148Highest |
573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
| Reading and Wells 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% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Sheffield 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% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest 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% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Sheffield 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±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% 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 |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$967±$79Lowest 22% below 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 |
$3,308 34% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Lowest 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
30 minLowest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Wells 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.