Compare towns
Waltham vs Reading vs New Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
New Haven 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 | Waltham | Reading | New Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452Lowest |
699 |
1,792Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
48±3.9Lowest 11% above VT |
| Waltham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,500±$14kHighest 20% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$92,321±$17k 14% above VT |
| Waltham and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,700±$51kLowest 4% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$379,300±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
| New Haven and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$113Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,163±$143Highest 6% below VT |
| New Haven and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,714Lowest 13% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,967Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±58.6 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
20.1%±6.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
78.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.