Compare towns
Brookline vs Reading vs Walden
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).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k 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.
| Measure | Brookline | Reading | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
699 |
1,037Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Reading and Walden 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Walden and Brookline 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 |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
| Walden 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 |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% 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±$331 11% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Walden 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% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Walden 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.