Compare towns

Brookline vs Cavendish vs Reading

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).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

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.

MeasureBrooklineCavendishReading
People
Population
531Lowest
1,242Highest
699
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
+1.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.1±2.7Lowest
5% above VT
45.2±5.9
5% above VT
51.1±7.6Highest
19% above VT
Reading and Cavendish 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%
18.3%±4.8Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.5%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
Brookline and Reading 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%
23.6%±2
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±3.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
Reading and Cavendish 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%
39.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6
VT: 7%
4.3%±1.9Highest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
Cavendish and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,833±$16kLowest
about the VT average
$89,063±$29kHighest
10% above VT
$85,000±$19k
5% above VT
Cavendish 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
$285,100±$40kLowest
10% below VT
$377,200±$72kHighest
19% above VT
Reading and Brookline 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
$1,000±$546Lowest
19% below VT
$1,100±$331
11% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000
about the VT average
$3,948Lowest
22% below VT
$5,754Highest
14% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7
VT: 48.4%
28.9%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
Reading and Brookline 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%
6.3%
VT: 10.1%
8.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
81.3%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
1 yr older than VT
1968Lowest
8 yrs older than VT
1969
7 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
21% above VT
19 minLowest
21% below VT
33 minHighest
41% above VT
Work from home
20.6%±5.2
VT: 16.9%
18.5%±6.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
Reading and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Green Mountain Unified School District #77 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 18 photos → 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.