Compare towns
Windham vs Reading vs Lowell vs Townshend
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).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Reading | Lowell | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
699 |
1,070 |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend 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%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6 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% VT: 43.8% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
| Reading and Lowell 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 |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% 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 |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below 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 |
$945±$46Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Reading and Townshend 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 |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Reading 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% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6%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 |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend 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 | Lowell School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.1 |
| 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.