Compare towns
Brookline vs Reading vs Whiting vs Westminster
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).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Whiting | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
699 |
532 |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Westminster and Reading 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%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Westminster 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 |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
| Whiting 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 |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% 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 |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
| Brookline and Whiting 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 |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Whiting 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% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Reading 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 | — | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.