Compare towns
Reading vs Worcester vs Belvidere vs West Windsor
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 renters (15.1% rent).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Belvidere has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
West Windsor has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Worcester | Belvidere | West Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
831 |
422Lowest |
1,171Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +22.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT |
54±5.9Highest 25% above VT |
| West Windsor and Reading 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±10 VT: 17.9% |
| Belvidere and West Windsor 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% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and West Windsor 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% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
35.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.1%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and West Windsor 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 |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$81,563±$18k about the VT average |
$108,750±$18kHighest 34% above VT |
| West Windsor 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±$72k 19% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$239,200±$51kLowest 24% below VT |
$393,500±$41kHighest 24% above VT |
| West Windsor and Reading 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 |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$1,100±$217 11% below VT |
| Belvidere 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 |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,860Highest 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
28 minLowest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±3.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | — | Mount Ascutney School District #86 |
| High school in town | None 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.