Compare towns
Fairlee vs Putney vs Reading vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k 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 | Fairlee | Putney | Reading | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066 |
2,622Highest |
699Lowest |
980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
| Reading and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
| Reading and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$850±$778 31% below VT |
| Reading and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617 11% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Putney 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 | — | — |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.