Compare towns
Reading vs Worcester vs Brookline
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%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
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 | Worcester | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699 |
831Highest |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
| Reading and Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest 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%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| 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 |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Reading and Brookline 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 |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 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% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
28 minLowest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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.