Compare towns
Strafford vs Windham vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Strafford | Windham | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Highest |
594Lowest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
| Strafford and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$353,900±$20kLowest 12% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
— | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
| Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$5,754Lowest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest 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 | Strafford School District | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.