Compare towns
Brookline vs Jay vs Reading vs Windham
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).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Jay | Reading | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
471Lowest |
699Highest |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 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%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Windham 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% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
| Windham 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Reading and Windham 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 |
— | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | 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.