Compare towns
Reading vs Westminster vs Salisbury
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 expensive homes ($377k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 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 | Westminster | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699 |
497Lowest |
1,200Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
50.6±6.5 17% above VT |
| Reading and Salisbury 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% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Salisbury and Reading 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% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Reading 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 |
$81,000±$22kLowest about the VT average |
$99,688±$21kHighest 23% above VT |
| Salisbury 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±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$306,900±$51kLowest 3% below VT |
| Reading and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
| Salisbury 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 |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
$4,842 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Salisbury 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% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 7 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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.