Compare towns
Marshfield vs Reading vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($178k median).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Brookline has the most kids (20% 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 | Marshfield | Reading | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 470Lowest |
699Highest |
531 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±8.8Lowest about the VT average |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Reading and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Marshfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$20k 4% above VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the VT average |
| Reading and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $178,300±$31kLowest 44% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% 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 | $1,125±$79 9% below VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,269Lowest 35% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±62.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 24% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 minLowest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.5%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Brookline 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 |
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.