Compare towns
Reading vs Worcester vs Montpelier
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% rent).
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 | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
831 |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
42.3±2.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Reading and Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Montpelier 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%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Montpelier 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% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$81,030±$6k about the VT average |
| Reading and Montpelier 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 |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$375,100±$21k 18% above VT |
| Reading and Montpelier 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 |
$1,302±$113Highest 6% above VT |
| Montpelier 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 |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Montpelier 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Montpelier and Worcester 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 | — | — | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
| 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.