Compare towns
Braintree vs Derby Center vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby Center has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.4%).
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 | Braintree | Derby Center | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Highest |
693Lowest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4 35% above VT |
61.1±7Highest 42% above VT |
51.1±7.6Lowest 19% above VT |
| Derby Center and Braintree 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% |
14.1%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Derby Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
38.2%±6.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby Center and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% VT: 43.8% |
16.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.3%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Derby Center and Reading 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 |
$58,250±$10kLowest 28% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
| Reading and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$196,600±$24kLowest 38% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,078±$257 13% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
| Reading and Derby Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 22% below VT |
$2,505Lowest 50% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.2%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Derby Center 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% |
12.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
51.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
16 minLowest 31% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
3.2%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Braintree 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 Our Story | 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.