Compare towns
West Fairlee 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
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Wardsboro has the shortest commute (27 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 | West Fairlee | Reading | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 711 |
699Lowest |
820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.6Lowest 17% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±5.1Lowest 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+ | 29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Reading and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
| Reading and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $237,200±$35kLowest 25% 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 | $1,113±$171 10% below VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,210 3% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±89.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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.