Compare towns
Wolcott vs Reading vs Craftsbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wolcott has the most affordable homes ($221k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Craftsbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.4%).
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 | Wolcott | Reading | Craftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,507Highest |
699Lowest |
1,352 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+11.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
41.5±4.6Lowest 4% below VT |
| Reading and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Wolcott and Craftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Craftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
46.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
12.4%±2.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$83,672±$16k 3% above VT |
| Reading and Craftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $221,300±$23kLowest 30% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$270,500±$44k 15% below VT |
| Reading and Craftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,059±$118Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$1,091±$184 12% below VT |
| Reading and Craftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,930Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,164 17% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
29.9%±29.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 13% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Wolcott School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| 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.