Compare towns
Worcester vs Reading vs Troy
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 the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Troy has the shortest commute (24 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.
| Measure | Worcester | Reading | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831 |
699Lowest |
1,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
44.5±5.7Lowest 3% above 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%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Troy and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
| Troy and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% 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 | $4,421 12% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,644Lowest 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Troy School District |
| 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 |
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.