Compare towns
Reading vs West Windsor vs Westminster
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 youngest population (median age 51.1).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k 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 Windsor | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,171 |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+22.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Lowest 19% above VT |
54±5.9Highest 25% above VT |
53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
| West Windsor and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±10Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| West Windsor and Reading 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% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
6.1%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| West Windsor and Westminster 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 |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
| 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 |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% 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±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$1,100±$217Highest 11% below VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 14% above VT |
$5,860Highest 16% above VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Westminster 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% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±3.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mount Ascutney School District #86 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.