Compare towns
Andover vs Braintree vs Brookline vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Brookline has the youngest population (median age 45.1).
Reading has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
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 | Andover | Braintree | Brookline | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
1,026Highest |
531Lowest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
| Braintree and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Brookline and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$79,803±$5kLowest about the VT average |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364 13% above VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Brookline and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190 about the VT average |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school 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.