Compare towns
Stratton vs Reading vs Williston vs Whiting
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 youngest population (median age 31.5).
Reading has the most homeowners (84.9%).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Whiting has the most affordable homes ($280k 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 | Williston | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532Lowest |
699 |
10,144Highest |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
| Reading and Williston 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%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Whiting 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%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Williston 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±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
| Stratton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$280,400±$36kLowest 11% below VT |
| Williston and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
| Williston and Stratton 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 |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,227Lowest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Whiting 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% VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 39% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Williston 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.