Compare towns
West Windsor vs Brookfield vs Strafford 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 Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Reading has the most renters (15.1% rent).
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 | Brookfield | Strafford | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,171 |
1,486Highest |
1,372 |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +22.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54±5.9Highest 25% above VT |
47±5.9Lowest 9% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
| West Windsor and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±10 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Reading 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 VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| West Windsor and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,750±$18k 34% above VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
| Strafford and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,500±$41k 24% above VT |
$339,300±$15kLowest 7% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
| Strafford and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$217 11% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Strafford and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,860 16% above VT |
$4,560Lowest 10% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
33 min 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±3.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Reading 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Strafford School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.