Compare towns
Fairlee vs Reading vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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 | Fairlee | Reading | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066 |
699Lowest |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Fairlee and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Reading 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% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| 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±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% 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 |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Lowest 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% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.