Compare towns
Brookline vs Reading vs Windham vs Panton
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).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Panton has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Windham | Panton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
699Highest |
594 |
690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
42.7±3.8Lowest 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%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.9%±5.3Highest 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Windham 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% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.3 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 |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$86,667±$10k 7% above VT |
| Windham and Panton 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$438,000±$40kHighest 38% 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 |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
— | $1,410±$130 14% above 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 |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$6,695Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61%±39 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±8.6Highest 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 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.