Compare towns

Reading vs Westminster 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 most expensive homes ($377k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Westminster has the shortest commute (24 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.

MeasureReadingWestminsterWestminster
People
Population
699
497Lowest
2,999Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
-5.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.1±7.6
19% above VT
43.3±11.5Lowest
about the VT average
53.5±3.7Highest
24% above VT
Westminster and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.5%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
28.4%±7.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.2%±4.7Lowest
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%±3.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.7%±11.4Lowest
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%
VT: 43.8%
45.4%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±2.5
VT: 7%
2.2%±3.5Lowest
VT: 7%
4.4%±3.1Highest
VT: 7%
Westminster 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±$19kHighest
5% above VT
$81,000±$22k
about the VT average
$71,491±$4kLowest
12% below VT
Reading and Westminster 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
$273,800±$35kLowest
14% 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±$331Highest
11% below VT
$749±$315Lowest
39% below VT
$916±$126
26% below VT
Reading and Westminster 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
$4,480
11% below VT
$4,063Lowest
19% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
6.1%±43.8Lowest
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%
2.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
80.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969
7 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
41% above VT
30 min
26% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
22.9%±10.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.1%±15.9
VT: 16.9%
27%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
Westminster and Westminster 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 #53 of 70 in VT
School district Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 — Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District
High school 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.