Compare towns
Windham vs Panton vs Reading vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Panton has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Windham | Panton | Reading | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
690 |
699 |
831Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
42.7±3.8Lowest about the VT average |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Reading and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
24.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Panton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
35.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$86,667±$10k 7% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Windham and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$438,000±$40kHighest 38% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Panton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,410±$130Highest 14% above VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Panton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 18% above VT |
$6,695Highest 33% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
61%±39 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Panton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school 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.