Compare towns
Windham vs Reading vs Calais vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k 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 | Windham | Reading | Calais | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
699 |
1,713Highest |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Reading and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the VT average |
| Calais and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
| Calais and Reading 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 |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Brookline and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 18% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,000Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 14% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | 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.