Compare towns
Stratton vs Reading vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
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 | Stratton | Reading | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 532Lowest |
699 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Reading and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Stratton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Stratton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Stratton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,750 6% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 39% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Chester 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 | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.