Compare towns
Reading vs Whitingham vs Castleton vs West Windsor
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 people working from home (22.9%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
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 | Whitingham | Castleton | West Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,368 |
4,453Highest |
1,171 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+22.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
54±5.9Highest 25% above VT |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±10Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham 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% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
59.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
6.1%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$108,750±$18kHighest 34% above 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 |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$393,500±$41kHighest 24% above 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±$331 11% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,100±$217 11% below VT |
| Castleton and Reading 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 |
$5,055 about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,860Highest 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Reading 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±3.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and West Windsor 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mount Ascutney School District #86 |
| High school in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.