What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waterbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).

Reading has the most homeowners (84.9%).

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	Waterbury	Reading
People
Population	5,405Highest	699Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.3%Highest VT: +2.8%	+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average	51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT
	Reading and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9%	18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Waterbury and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4%	28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.2%Highest VT: 43.8%	46%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.8Highest VT: 7%	3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7%
	Waterbury and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,917±$23kHighest 28% above VT	$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT
	Waterbury and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT	$377,200±$72kLowest 19% above VT
	Waterbury and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT	$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT
	Reading and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,435Highest 28% above VT	$5,754Lowest 14% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.8%±21.7Lowest VT: 48.4%	63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4%
	Reading and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Lowest VT: 10.1%	8.4%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%	84.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT	1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 28% above VT	33 minHighest 41% above VT
Work from home	28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9%	22.9%±10.6Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Waterbury and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#20 of 70 in VT	—
School district	Harwood Unified Union School District #60	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.