Compare towns
Braintree vs Brookline vs Reading vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the most renters (19% rent).
Brookline has the youngest population (median age 45.1).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Bridgewater 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 | Braintree | Brookline | Reading | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026Highest |
531Lowest |
699 |
980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
57.1±8 32% above VT |
| Braintree and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8 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+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
| Reading and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
| Reading and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$850±$778 31% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 22% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Brookline 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.