Compare towns
West Windsor vs Appleton vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
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 Windsor | Appleton | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,171 |
1,360Highest |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +22.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±5.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±10Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Windsor and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,750±$18kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,500±$41kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Appleton and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,860Highest 88% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mount Ascutney School District #86 | Appleton Public Schools | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.