Compare towns
Reading vs Brattleboro vs Middlesex vs West Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
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 | Reading | Brattleboro | Middlesex | West Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
12,122Highest |
1,943 |
1,171 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+22.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
54±5.9Highest 25% above VT |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±10 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
59.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
6.1%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
| West Windsor and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$108,750±$18k 34% above VT |
| Middlesex and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$393,500±$41kHighest 24% above VT |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,074±$58Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,100±$217 11% below VT |
| Middlesex and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 14% above VT |
$5,700Lowest 13% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,860 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±3.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #33 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mount Ascutney School District #86 |
| High school in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.