Compare towns
Braintree vs Reading vs Tunbridge vs Rochester
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 affordable homes ($218k median).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Tunbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Reading | Tunbridge | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
699Lowest |
1,253 |
1,389Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
42.7±8.3Lowest about the VT average |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
| Braintree and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Tunbridge 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Rochester 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% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
42.9% VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Tunbridge 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 |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$89,464±$26kHighest 10% above VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
| Tunbridge and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$315,300±$23k about the VT average |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
| Reading and Tunbridge 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
| Tunbridge and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,645 8% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Reading 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% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.2% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Tunbridge 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 | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.