Compare towns
Reading vs Weston vs West Fairlee
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 kids (18.5% under 18).
Weston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k 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 | Weston | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699 |
685Lowest |
711Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
60.5±7Highest 40% above VT |
50.3±7.6Lowest 17% above VT |
| Weston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Weston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
44.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Reading and West Fairlee 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 |
$115,000±$20kHighest 42% above VT |
$76,500±$16kLowest 6% below VT |
| Weston 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 |
$537,700±$77kHighest 70% above VT |
$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,375±$729Highest 11% above VT |
$1,113±$171 10% below VT |
| Weston and West Fairlee 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 |
$7,076Highest 40% above VT |
$5,210Lowest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and West Fairlee 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.4% VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
31.2%±7.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Weston and Reading 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 | — | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school 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.