Compare towns
Reading vs Castleton vs Brattleboro
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%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
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 | Castleton | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
4,453 |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
| Reading and Brattleboro 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%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brattleboro and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 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% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| Reading and Castleton 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,074±$58Lowest 13% 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Brattleboro 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 | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
| 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.