Compare towns
Brookline vs Peru vs Reading vs Newfane
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).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Reading has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Peru | Reading | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
434Lowest |
699 |
1,456Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
| Newfane 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% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7 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% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane 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% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 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 |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
| Peru 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 |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$284,200±$49kLowest 10% below VT |
| Peru 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 |
$1,271±$820 about the VT average |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
| Brookline and Peru 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 |
$5,000Lowest about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Newfane 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% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 minLowest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.