Compare towns
Middlesex vs Reading vs Brookline vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Reading | Brookline | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
699 |
531Lowest |
2,090Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| Reading and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the VT average |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
| Reading and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
| Brookline and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school 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.