Compare towns
Brookline vs Calais vs Reading vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the highest household income ($101k).
Reading has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Westminster 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 | Brookline | Calais | Reading | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,713 |
699 |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Westminster and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
| Calais and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
| Calais and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
| Brookline and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.