Compare towns
Reading vs Windham vs Dorset
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 oldest population (median age 51.1).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k 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 | Windham | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699 |
594Lowest |
2,092Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
| Reading and Dorset 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% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Reading and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
| Dorset and Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20kLowest 12% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
— | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
| Dorset and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Lowest 14% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Reading 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset 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 | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| 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.