Compare towns

Brookline vs Panton 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).
Panton has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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.

MeasureBrooklinePantonReading
People
Population
531Lowest
690
699Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
-4.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.1±2.7
5% above VT
42.7±3.8Lowest
about the VT average
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%
24.9%±5.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.5%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Panton 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%
16.7%±2.9Lowest
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±3.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.1%
VT: 43.8%
35.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.3Lowest
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±$16kLowest
about the VT average
$86,667±$10kHighest
7% above VT
$85,000±$19k
5% above VT
Panton 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
$438,000±$40kHighest
38% above VT
$377,200±$72k
19% above VT
Panton 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
$1,410±$130
14% above VT
$1,100±$331Lowest
11% below VT
Brookline and Panton 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
$6,695Highest
33% above VT
$5,754
14% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
61%±39
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
Reading and Panton 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%
3.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
83.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
1 yr older than VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1969Lowest
7 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
21% above VT
26 minLowest
11% above VT
33 minHighest
41% above VT
Work from home
20.6%±5.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
26.7%±8.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6
VT: 16.9%
Panton 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 Our Story 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.