Compare towns

Brookline vs Reading vs Hyde Park

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Hyde Park has the most affordable homes ($222k median).

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.

MeasureBrooklineReadingHyde Park
People
Population
531
699Highest
513Lowest
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
51.1±7.6Highest
19% above VT
42.6±10.1Lowest
about the VT average
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%
18.5%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
22.6%±6.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
Hyde Park 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%
28.2%±3.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
16.4%±3.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.1%
VT: 43.8%
46%Highest
VT: 43.8%
41%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5
VT: 7%
2.1%±2Lowest
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
$85,000±$19k
5% above VT
$89,946±$10kHighest
11% above VT
Hyde Park 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
$377,200±$72kHighest
19% above VT
$221,800±$57kLowest
30% below VT
Reading and Brookline 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
$1,100±$331Lowest
11% below VT
$1,306±$285
6% above VT
Brookline and Hyde Park 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
$5,754Highest
14% above VT
$3,893Lowest
23% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
42.1%±47.5Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Reading and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
79.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
1 yr older than VT
1969
7 yrs older than VT
1964Lowest
12 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
21% above VT
33 minHighest
41% above VT
26 minLowest
11% above VT
Work from home
20.6%±5.2
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
7.9%±5.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Reading and Brookline 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 — — #59 of 70 in VT
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

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.