Compare towns
Reading vs Brookfield vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 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 | Reading | Brookfield | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,486 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Reading and Brookfield 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% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Reading 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% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
| Brookfield 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±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Reading and Brookfield 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 |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
| Castleton 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 |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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 |
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.