Compare towns
Brookline vs Castleton vs Reading vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Putney has the most renters (27.2% rent).
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 | Castleton | Reading | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
4,453Highest |
699 |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Reading and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton 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 |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Reading and Brookline 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Reading and Putney 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Reading 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Brookline 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school 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.