Compare towns
Arlington vs Putney vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k 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 | Arlington | Putney | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,598Lowest |
2,622 |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±4 3% below U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Reading and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11k 27% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,500±$59k 4% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,191±$172 16% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Arlington and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Arlington 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 | #50 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Arlington School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Reading |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.