Compare towns
Wallingford vs Reading vs Shrewsbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wallingford has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Shrewsbury has the most kids (25.1% under 18).
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 | Wallingford | Reading | Shrewsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,286Highest |
699Lowest |
1,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
42.3±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Reading and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.1%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Shrewsbury and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Shrewsbury and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,230±$15kLowest about the VT average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$91,250±$23kHighest 12% above VT |
| Shrewsbury and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $261,900±$44kLowest 17% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$331,900±$52k 5% above VT |
| Reading and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,438±$380Highest 17% above VT |
| Shrewsbury and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,355Lowest 14% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,350 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
71.4%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Shrewsbury and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
95.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±4.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| 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 |
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.