Compare towns
West Fairlee vs Windham vs Reading
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).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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.
| Measure | West Fairlee | Windham | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 711Highest |
594Lowest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
| Reading and West Fairlee 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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest 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±$16kLowest 6% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| Windham and Reading 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 |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
— | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,210Lowest 3% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and West Fairlee 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% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Windham 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 |
| 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.