Compare towns
Reading vs Westford vs Windham
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 oldest population (median age 51.1).
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Westford | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699 |
2,290Highest |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
44.1±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
| Reading and Windham 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% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Windham 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% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Windham 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% |
52.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Westford 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±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| Westford and Windham 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 |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
$353,900±$20kLowest 12% above VT |
| Westford 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 |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
— |
| Westford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Lowest 14% above VT |
$6,282Highest 25% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Windham 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% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Windham 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 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.