What stands out worked out from the figures below

Topsham has the most affordable homes ($223k median).

Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Topsham	Reading
People
Population	999Highest	699Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	50.1±5.9Lowest 16% above VT	51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT
	Reading and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9%	18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9%
	Reading and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.2%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4%	28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4%
	Reading and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%	46%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%	3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7%
	Reading and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT	$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT
	Reading and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT	$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$908±$398Lowest 26% below VT	$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT
	Reading and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,006Lowest 21% below VT	$5,754Highest 14% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4%	63.3%±31.7Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Topsham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.8%Highest VT: 10.1%	8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.3%Highest VT: 73.2%	84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT	1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 49% above VT	33 minLowest 41% above VT
Work from home	14.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9%	22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9%
	Reading and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Waits River Union High District #36	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

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.