Compare towns

Whitingham vs Reading vs Leicester

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 affordable homes ($262k median).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Leicester has the shortest commute (28 min average).

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.

MeasureWhitinghamReadingLeicester
People
Population
1,368Highest
699Lowest
1,026
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1%
VT: +2.8%
+3.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-10%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
46.4±7.1Lowest
8% above VT
51.1±7.6Highest
19% above VT
48.8±3.8
13% above VT
Reading and Leicester 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%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
14.9%±5.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Whitingham and Reading 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%
24.5%±6.7Lowest
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%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46%Highest
VT: 43.8%
35.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±1.9
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5Highest
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
Reading and Whitingham 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
$70,417±$30kLowest
13% 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±$30kLowest
17% below VT
$377,200±$72kHighest
19% above VT
$309,700±$107k
about the VT average
Reading and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$673±$150Lowest
45% below VT
$1,100±$331Highest
11% below VT
$1,098±$300
11% below VT
Reading and Leicester 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
$3,822Lowest
24% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.7%±47.3
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
33.3%±40.4Lowest
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%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.4%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
11.8%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.2%
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
85.5%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1969Lowest
7 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
62% above VT
33 min
41% above VT
28 minLowest
20% above VT
Work from home
9.7%±5.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.7%±5.9
VT: 16.9%
Reading and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Twin Valley Unified School District #75 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 —
High school in town Twin Valley Middle High School None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
7.8
— —
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.