Compare towns
Brookline vs Middlesex vs Putney 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).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 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.
| Measure | Brookline | Middlesex | Putney | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,943 |
2,622Highest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
| 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Brookline 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| Middlesex 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±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Middlesex 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 |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Brookline and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Lowest about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Putney 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.