Compare towns

Woodstock vs Brattleboro vs Reading

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Woodstock has the most expensive homes ($582k median).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

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.

MeasureWoodstockBrattleboroReading
People
Population
3,027
12,122Highest
699Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.1%
VT: +2.8%
+3.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
56±3.6Highest
30% above VT
45.6±4.5Lowest
6% above VT
51.1±7.6
19% above VT
Woodstock and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.6%±4.6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
19%±2.8Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.5%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
Brattleboro and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
32.7%±5.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
25.5%±3.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
Woodstock and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
46.5%
VT: 43.8%
46%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.6%±0.6Lowest
VT: 7%
4.1%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5
VT: 7%
Brattleboro and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$120,938±$29kHighest
49% above VT
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% below VT
$85,000±$19k
5% above VT
Woodstock and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$582,000±$84kHighest
84% above VT
$257,300±$18kLowest
19% below VT
$377,200±$72k
19% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,430±$346Highest
16% above VT
$1,074±$58Lowest
13% below VT
$1,100±$331
11% below VT
Woodstock and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,449Highest
88% above VT
$5,700Lowest
13% above VT
$5,754
14% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.7%±17.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±9.6
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
Reading and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%
VT: 10.1%
17.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.4%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.4%
VT: 73.2%
58.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958
18 yrs older than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1969Highest
7 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
7% below VT
19 minLowest
19% below VT
33 minHighest
41% above VT
Work from home
32.8%±12.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.9%±4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6
VT: 16.9%
Woodstock and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #10 of 70 in VT #33 of 70 in VT —
School district Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town Woodstock Union Middle/High School Brattleboro Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.5Highest
9.0Lowest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.