Compare towns
Reading vs Brighton vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Reading | Brighton | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699 |
1,167Highest |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Reading and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Brighton 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% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Reading 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 |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
| Andover and Reading 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 |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
| Andover 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 |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Reading 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% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Reading 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 | Brighton School District | — |
| High school in town | None 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.