Compare towns

Windham vs Reading vs Dover

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 expensive homes ($377k median).
Dover has the shortest commute (22 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.

MeasureWindhamReadingDover
People
Population
594Lowest
699
1,466Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.2±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
51.1±7.6
19% above VT
53.5±8.3Highest
24% above VT
Dover and Reading 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%
10.2%±5.7Lowest
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%±8.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
29.5%±6.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
Dover and Reading 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%
48.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5Highest
VT: 7%
2.5%±2.9
VT: 7%
Reading and Dover 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
$85,000±$19k
5% above VT
$52,313±$7kLowest
36% below VT
Windham and Reading 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
$332,900±$55kLowest
5% 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±$331Highest
11% below VT
$670±$49Lowest
46% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
$5,754
14% above VT
$4,510Lowest
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
38.1%±17.2Lowest
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%
7.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
81.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1969Lowest
7 yrs older than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
14% above VT
33 minHighest
41% above VT
22 minLowest
6% below VT
Work from home
20.5%±5.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6
VT: 16.9%
23.2%±11.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
Dover and Reading 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 River Valleys Unified School District #73
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.