Compare towns
Roxbury vs Reading vs Lowell vs Braintree
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%).
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k median).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Roxbury | Reading | Lowell | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 942 |
699Lowest |
1,070Highest |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 35.6±11.7 17% below VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
| Braintree and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 30.6%±5 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Reading and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,214±$22k 10% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
| Reading and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,600±$55k 23% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$495 23% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$945±$46 23% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
| Reading and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,284 15% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 27.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 5.2%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Braintree 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 | Lowell School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.