Compare towns
Brookline vs Putney vs Reading vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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.
| Measure | Brookline | Putney | Reading | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
2,622 |
699 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Reading and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Williston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Williston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232 40% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Williston and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Lowest about the VT average |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Williston 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.