Compare towns

West Windsor vs Calais 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%).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
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.

MeasureWest WindsorCalaisReading
People
Population
1,171
1,713Highest
699Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+22.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+3.4%
VT: +2.8%
+3.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
54±5.9Highest
25% above VT
42±8.6Lowest
about the VT average
51.1±7.6
19% above VT
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%±10
VT: 17.9%
22.5%±5.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.5%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Calais 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%
21.6%±5.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±3.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
Reading and West Windsor 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%
55.4%
VT: 43.8%
46%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±3.6
VT: 7%
7.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
Calais and West Windsor 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
34% above VT
$100,625±$27k
24% above VT
$85,000±$19kLowest
5% above VT
West Windsor and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$393,500±$41kHighest
24% above VT
$390,300±$36k
23% above VT
$377,200±$72kLowest
19% above VT
West Windsor and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,100±$217Lowest
11% below VT
$1,408±$392Highest
14% above VT
$1,100±$331Lowest
11% below VT
Calais 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
$6,586Highest
31% above VT
$5,754Lowest
14% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
49%±38.3
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
Reading and Calais 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%
8.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.4%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
92.4%
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1976
same as VT
1969Lowest
7 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
20% above VT
31 min
32% above VT
33 minHighest
41% above VT
Work from home
16.1%±3.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.4%±7.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6
VT: 16.9%
Calais 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 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 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

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.