Compare towns
Brookfield vs Reading vs Newark vs Elmore
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Newark has the most affordable homes ($230k median).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Brookfield | Reading | Newark | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486Highest |
699Lowest |
727 |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+0.5% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 9% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
41.4±6Lowest 4% below VT |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
| Reading and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22%±3 VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
41%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
| Brookfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$72,929±$7kLowest 10% below VT |
$98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
| Elmore and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$229,900±$23kLowest 27% below VT |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
| Reading and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
$1,225±$263 about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560 10% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,771Lowest 25% below VT |
$5,066 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.8% VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
34 min 44% above VT |
29 minLowest 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| 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.