Compare towns
Stockbridge vs Reading vs Barnard vs Braintree
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stockbridge has the most people working from home (28.6%).
Reading has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
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 | Stockbridge | Reading | Barnard | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 791 |
699Lowest |
1,211Highest |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.3±5.3 28% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
| Braintree and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 9.9%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Lowest 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+ | 35% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Reading and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,109±$12kLowest 5% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
| Barnard and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,500±$26k 10% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
| Barnard and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$126 8% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,488 11% below VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±22 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.6%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Stockbridge and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None 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.