Compare towns
Franklin vs Middlesex vs Reading vs Berkshire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Berkshire has the youngest population (median age 31.6).
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 | Franklin | Middlesex | Reading | Berkshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,590 |
1,943Highest |
699Lowest |
1,745 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-8.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
31.6±6.9Lowest 27% below VT |
| Reading and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Berkshire and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
22% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$71,406±$21kLowest 12% below VT |
| Middlesex and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$244,600±$26kLowest 23% below VT |
| Reading and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,525±$267Highest 24% above VT |
| Berkshire and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
57.4%±52.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
14.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
77.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
32 min 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None 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.