Compare towns

Springfield vs Whitingham vs Reading

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

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.

MeasureSpringfieldWhitinghamReading
People
Population
9,084Highest
1,368
699Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-1%
VT: +2.8%
+3.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
43.2±3.7Lowest
about the VT average
46.4±7.1
8% above VT
51.1±7.6Highest
19% above VT
Reading and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.4
VT: 17.9%
19.8%±4.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.5%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Whitingham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.6%±3.7Lowest
VT: 21.4%
31.1%±2.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
Whitingham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
32.8%
VT: 43.8%
46%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.4
VT: 7%
2.2%±1.9Lowest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5Highest
VT: 7%
Reading and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,571±$13kLowest
18% below VT
$70,625±$11k
13% below VT
$85,000±$19kHighest
5% above VT
Reading and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$192,400±$20kLowest
39% below VT
$262,300±$30k
17% below VT
$377,200±$72kHighest
19% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$963±$100
22% below VT
$673±$150Lowest
45% below VT
$1,100±$331Highest
11% below VT
Reading and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,807Lowest
5% below VT
$5,055
about the VT average
$5,754Highest
14% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.6%±15.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
62.7%±47.3
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
Reading and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.8%
VT: 10.1%
15.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.4%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
85.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958Lowest
18 yrs older than VT
1974Highest
2 yrs older than VT
1969
7 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
16% above VT
38 minHighest
62% above VT
33 min
41% above VT
Work from home
15.1%±5.5
VT: 16.9%
9.7%±5.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
Reading and Springfield 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 #64 of 70 in VT — —
School district River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District Twin Valley Unified School District #75 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town Springfield High School Twin Valley Middle High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
14.3Highest
7.8Lowest
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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.