Compare towns
Arlington vs Putney vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Putney has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | 2,598 |
2,622Highest |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4 13% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| Arlington and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,500±$59k about the VT average |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Arlington and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 13% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — |
| School district | Arlington School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — |
| 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.