Compare towns

Windham vs Reading vs Chittenden

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 youngest population (median age 44.2).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Chittenden has the highest household income ($106k).

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.

MeasureWindhamReadingChittenden
People
Population
594Lowest
699
1,318Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-1.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.2±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
51.1±7.6Highest
19% above VT
50.8±6.3
18% above VT
Reading and Chittenden 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%
18.5%±4.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.8%±2.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Reading and Windham 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%
28.2%±3.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.8%±4Lowest
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%
46%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
51.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5
VT: 7%
3.8%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
Chittenden 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±$12k
16% above VT
$85,000±$19kLowest
5% above VT
$106,250±$28kHighest
31% above VT
Chittenden and Windham 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
$377,200±$72kHighest
19% above VT
$346,800±$35kLowest
10% above VT
Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,100±$331Lowest
11% below VT
$1,125±$488Highest
9% below VT
Chittenden and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
$5,754
14% above VT
$5,346Lowest
6% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
14.8%±55.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Reading and Windham 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%
8.4%
VT: 10.1%
6.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
93.5%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1969Lowest
7 yrs older than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
14% above VT
33 minHighest
41% above VT
28 min
21% above VT
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
15%±3.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Reading and Windham 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 Barstow Unified Union School District #49
High school 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.