Compare towns
Townshend vs Reading vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Wardsboro has the most homeowners (90.4%).
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 | Townshend | Reading | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,538Highest |
699Lowest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
51.1±7.6Lowest 19% above VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
| Townshend and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Reading and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
| Reading and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Reading and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,364 6% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.