Compare towns
Worcester vs Windham vs Middletown Springs vs Reading
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%).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Middletown Springs has the most kids (24% under 18).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
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 | Windham | Middletown Springs | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Highest |
594Lowest |
747 |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +6.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Middletown Springs 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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Middletown Springs and Reading 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Middletown Springs 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% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
45.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.5 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Middletown Springs 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 |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$82,000±$12k about the VT average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above 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 | $271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$262,200±$24kLowest 17% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% 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 |
— | $1,208±$438Highest about the VT average |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Middletown Springs 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 |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,595 9% below VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 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 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.