Compare towns
Franklin vs Putney vs Reading vs Brownington
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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Brownington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Franklin | Putney | Reading | Brownington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,590 |
2,622Highest |
699Lowest |
1,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
40.5±4.5 6% below VT |
| Reading and Brownington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brownington and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
21.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$75,556±$17kLowest 7% below VT |
| Reading and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$193,800±$40kLowest 39% 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 | $891±$266 28% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$745±$504 40% below VT |
| Reading and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,912 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
78.5%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brownington and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
21.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Franklin 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 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school in town | None 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.