Compare towns
Andover vs Worcester vs Reading vs Brookline
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%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
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 | Worcester | Reading | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
831Highest |
699 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
| Reading and Andover 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% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Andover 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% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Brookline 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 |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| 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 |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below 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 |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above 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 |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Worcester 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 | — |
| High school 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.