Compare towns
Worcester vs Reading vs Salisbury vs Windham
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 affordable homes ($271k median).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
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 | Salisbury | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
699 |
1,200Highest |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
50.6±6.5 17% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Reading and Salisbury 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% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 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+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Salisbury and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$99,688±$21kHighest 23% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| Salisbury and Windham 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 |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% 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 | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
— |
| Salisbury and Reading 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 |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$4,842 4% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 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 | 5.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.