Compare towns
Reading vs Brookline vs Dover
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 most expensive homes ($377k median).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Brookline | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699 |
531Lowest |
1,466Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
| Dover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover 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% VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brookline 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±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Reading and Brookline 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 |
$290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
| Reading and Dover 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 |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest 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 | 8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover 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 | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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.