What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marlboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+59.7%).

Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).

Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Marlboro	Reading
People
Population	1,362Highest	699Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+59.7%Highest VT: +2.8%	+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT	51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT
Kids under 18	12%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9%
	Reading and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4%	28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.7%Highest VT: 43.8%	46%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7%	3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,135±$10kLowest 5% below VT	$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT
	Reading and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$357,300±$55kLowest 13% above VT	$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT
	Reading and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,600±$824Highest 30% above VT	$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT
	Marlboro and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,640Lowest 12% above VT	$5,754Highest 14% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.1%±43.6Lowest VT: 48.4%	63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4%
	Reading and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Lowest VT: 10.1%	8.4%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%	84.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest same as VT	1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 26% below VT	33 minHighest 41% above VT
Work from home	26%±11.2Highest VT: 16.9%	22.9%±10.6Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Marlboro and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Marlboro School District	Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.