Compare towns
Brookline vs Marshfield vs Reading vs Andover
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).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($178k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Marshfield | Reading | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
470Lowest |
699Highest |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
42.4±8.8Lowest about the VT average |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Reading and Andover 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% |
19.4%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Marshfield 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% |
10.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Andover 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% |
35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Marshfield 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 |
$84,375±$20k 4% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
| Andover 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 |
$178,300±$31kLowest 44% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
| Andover and Reading 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 |
$1,125±$79 9% below VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,389±$364 13% above VT |
| Brookline and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$3,269Lowest 35% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.4%±62.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover 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% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.5%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school 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.