Compare towns
Dover vs Reading vs Brookline vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Brookline has the youngest population (median age 45.1).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Dover | Reading | Brookline | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
699 |
531Lowest |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 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+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest 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 | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Reading and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
| Reading and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.1 |
| 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.