Compare towns
Reading vs Brookline vs Highgate 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
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
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 | Brookline | Highgate | West Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
531Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,171 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+22.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
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%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±10 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline 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% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and West Windsor 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% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.1%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
| West Windsor and Brookline 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 |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the VT average |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$108,750±$18kHighest 34% above VT |
| West Windsor 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 |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below 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 |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,100±$217 11% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 14% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,860Highest 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
28 minLowest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±3.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Brookline 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 | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Mount Ascutney School District #86 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.