Compare towns
Brookline vs Castleton 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
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
4,453Highest |
699 |
497Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
| Reading and Brookline 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
| Reading and Westminster 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 |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
| Reading and Westminster 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 |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Reading 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school 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.