What stands out worked out from the figures below

Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).

Marlboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+59.7%).

Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Reading	Marlboro
People
Population	699Lowest	1,362Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+59.7%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT	22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT
Kids under 18	18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9%	12%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Reading and Marlboro 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%	18.8%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46%Lowest VT: 43.8%	53.7%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7%	42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT	$77,135±$10kLowest 5% below VT
	Reading and Marlboro 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	$357,300±$55kLowest 13% above VT
	Reading and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT	$1,600±$824Highest 30% above VT
	Marlboro 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	$5,640Lowest 12% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4%	39.1%±43.6Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Reading and Marlboro 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%	7.9%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	84.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT	1976Highest same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 41% above VT	17 minLowest 26% below VT
Work from home	22.9%±10.6Lowest VT: 16.9%	26%±11.2Highest VT: 16.9%
	Marlboro 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	Marlboro School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.