Compare towns
Reading vs Windham vs Northfield
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 highest household income ($95k).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($274k 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 | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699 |
594Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Reading and Windham 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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Windham 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% |
20%±3.8Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$274,400±$21kLowest 13% below VT |
| Reading and Windham 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 |
— | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Reading and Northfield 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 |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,878Lowest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Windham 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.