Compare towns
Brookline vs Dover 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 affordable homes ($291k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
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 | Dover | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,466Highest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
| Dover and Reading 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest 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% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Reading 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% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Brookline and Reading 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 |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
| 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±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Dover 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 |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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 |
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.