Compare towns
Reading vs Whitingham vs Royalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Royalton has the shortest commute (20 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 | Whitingham | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,368 |
2,752Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
43.9±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
| Reading and Whitingham 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% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham 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% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Royalton 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±$19k 5% above VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
| Royalton 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 |
$262,300±$30kLowest 17% below VT |
$263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
| Reading and Royalton 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 |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
| Reading and Royalton 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 |
$5,055 about the VT average |
$4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Royalton 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 | — | — | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8Lowest |
8.7Highest |
| 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.