Compare towns
Worcester vs Reading vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Worcester | Reading | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831 |
699Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Reading and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Reading and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Reading and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.