The Town FilesReading, Vermont
Town in Windsor County · population 687 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $377,200
- Household income
- $85,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 83 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 51.1
Reading is a town of 687 people in Windsor County, Vermont. The median home is worth $377,200, above the typical Vermont town ($278,700). It ranks quieter than 96% of Vermont towns, better for a vacation home than 91% of Vermont towns, better for retirees than 90% of Vermont towns.
How Reading ranks
Percentile among Vermont towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Vermont towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Reading is worth $377,200, above the typical Vermont town ($278,700). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $85,000, which is more affordable than 23% of Vermont towns. Median rent is $1,100 a month. 84.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Reading | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $377,200 | $278,700 |
| Median rent | $1,100 | $1,117 |
| Median household income | $85,000 | $76,895 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 3.6× |
| Homeownership | 84.9% | 81.6% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 30.0% | — |
Who lives in Reading
| People | Reading | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.1 | 45.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.2% | 22.2% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.0% | 38.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.4% | 8.6% |
| Veterans | 3.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.9% | — |
| Work from home | 22.9% | 14.9% |
| Average commute | 33.1 min | 25.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.3% | 89.3% |
Weather in Reading
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 7.6°F. About 46.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 83.3 inches of snow (typical Vermont town: 84.3 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 184 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Reading since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Vermont town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 18, 2026 about 6.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 18, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 23, 1955.
Severe weather in Windsor County since 1996
Windsor County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 8, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3609: Tropical Depression Debby |
| March 2, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4762: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| July 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4720: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| July 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3595: Flooding |
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3567: Tropical Storm Henri |
Jobs and pay in Windsor County
Windsor County had 23,153 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,855 a year. Unemployment was 1.8% in 2023; in Reading itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Public schools in Reading
1 public school with 32 students, about 8.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Elementary School | PK-4 | 32 | 8.0 |
Towns near Reading
- Plymouth, VT4.8 mi · 641 people · home $337,900
- West Windsor, VT5.2 mi · 1,344 people · home $393,500
- Cavendish, VT6.8 mi · 1,392 people · home $285,100
- Woodstock, VT7.2 mi · 3,005 people · home $582,000
- Ludlow, VT8.2 mi · 773 people · home $304,000
- Ludlow, VT8.7 mi · 2,172 people · home $370,200
- Windsor, VT9.1 mi · 3,559 people · home $207,500
- Weathersfield, VT9.5 mi · 2,842 people · home $252,700
Reading questions
Is Reading, Vermont a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Reading scores better for retirees than 90% of Vermont towns and quieter than 96%. 28.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.1).
How much does a house cost in Reading?
The median owner-occupied home in Reading is valued at $377,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,000, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $1,100 a month.
What is the weather like in Reading?
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 7.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.5 inches of precipitation a year and 83.3 inches of snow.
Does Reading get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Reading since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on June 18, 2026. The typical Vermont town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)