Compare towns
Reading vs West Fairlee vs Woodstock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Woodstock has the most expensive homes ($582k 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 | West Fairlee | Woodstock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
711 |
3,027Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
50.3±7.6Lowest 17% above VT |
56±3.6Highest 30% above VT |
| Woodstock 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% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Woodstock 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% |
29.7%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
32.7%±5.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Woodstock and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% VT: 43.8% |
44.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Reading and West Fairlee 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 |
$76,500±$16kLowest 6% below VT |
$120,938±$29kHighest 49% above VT |
| Woodstock 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 |
$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
$582,000±$84kHighest 84% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,113±$171 10% below VT |
$1,430±$346Highest 16% above VT |
| Woodstock and West Fairlee 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 |
$5,210Lowest 3% above VT |
$9,449Highest 88% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
44.7%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and West Fairlee 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% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
69.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
32.8%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Woodstock and Reading 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 | — | — | #10 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Woodstock Union Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
| 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.