Compare towns

Reading vs West Windsor vs Middletown Springs

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%).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
Middletown Springs has the most affordable homes ($262k 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.

MeasureReadingWest WindsorMiddletown Springs
People
Population
699Lowest
1,171Highest
747
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+22.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+6.6%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.1±7.6
19% above VT
54±5.9Highest
25% above VT
49.2±5.1Lowest
14% above VT
West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.5%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
19.8%±10
VT: 17.9%
24%±5.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
Middletown Springs and West Windsor 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%
25.5%±6.7Lowest
VT: 21.4%
26.1%±2.5
VT: 21.4%
Reading and Middletown Springs 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%
59.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
45.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
6.1%±3.6Highest
VT: 7%
3.2%±1.5
VT: 7%
West Windsor and Middletown Springs 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
$108,750±$18kHighest
34% above VT
$82,000±$12kLowest
about the VT average
West Windsor 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
$393,500±$41kHighest
24% above VT
$262,200±$24kLowest
17% below VT
West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,100±$331Lowest
11% below VT
$1,100±$217Lowest
11% below VT
$1,208±$438Highest
about the VT average
Middletown Springs and Reading 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
$5,860Highest
16% above VT
$4,595Lowest
9% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
20%±100
VT: 48.4%
Reading and Middletown Springs 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%
3.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
6.1%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
97.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
90.4%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
7 yrs older than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
41% above VT
28 min
20% above VT
27 minLowest
16% above VT
Work from home
22.9%±10.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±3.2
VT: 16.9%
15.7%±5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Reading and West Windsor 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 Mount Ascutney School District #86 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 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.