Compare towns
Walden vs Reading vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Walden | Reading | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037Highest |
699 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
| Reading and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 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+ | 20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Walden and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the VT average |
| Walden and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above 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 | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| 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.