Compare towns
Stratton vs Worcester vs Reading 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 highest household income ($123k).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Worcester | Reading | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532Lowest |
831Highest |
699 |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
| Reading and Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 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% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Whiting 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 |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
| Stratton and Whiting 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 |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% 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 |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
| Stratton and Whiting 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 |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,227Lowest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 39% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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.