Compare towns
Reading vs Windham vs Middlesex 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 oldest population (median age 51.1).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Windham | Middlesex | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
594Lowest |
1,943Highest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| Reading and West Fairlee 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%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee 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% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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 |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$76,500±$16kLowest 6% below VT |
| Middlesex 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±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
| Reading and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
— | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,113±$171 10% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,210Lowest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
0%±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% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.