Compare towns
Reading vs Worcester vs Westford
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).
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
831 |
2,290Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
44.1±8.6Lowest 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% |
16.9%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Westford 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% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Westford and Worcester 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 |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
| Westford 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±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
| Westford 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 |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Westford 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 |
$6,282Highest 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Westford 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% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
29 minLowest 22% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest 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 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.