Compare towns
Brookline vs Montgomery 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 affordable homes ($291k median).
Montgomery has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Reading has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
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 | Montgomery | Reading | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,047Highest |
699 |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Montgomery 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% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest 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% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery 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% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below 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±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
$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 |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,100±$331 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 |
$4,326Lowest 14% 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% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Andover 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% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%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 |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9Lowest 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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.