Compare towns
Reading vs Windham vs Ryegate 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 most people working from home (22.9%).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Ryegate has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
West Fairlee has the most homeowners (91.9%).
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 | Ryegate | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
594Lowest |
1,059Highest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.8% VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below 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% |
23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate 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% |
22.1%±1.5Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Reading and West Fairlee 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±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% 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 |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% 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±$331 11% below VT |
— | $908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
| West Fairlee 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 |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
$5,210 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Ryegate 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% VT: 10.1% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Windham 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 | — | — | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.