Compare towns
Whitingham vs Reading vs Fair Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
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 | Whitingham | Reading | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,368 |
699Lowest |
2,724Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
| Reading and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Fair Haven and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Reading and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$830±$116 33% below VT |
| Reading and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,055 about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 62% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
31 minLowest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.8Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.