Compare towns
Jay vs Putney vs Reading vs Middletown Springs
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Middletown Springs has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Jay | Putney | Reading | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
2,622Highest |
699 |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+6.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Jay and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middletown Springs and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
45.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$82,000±$12k about the VT average |
| Reading and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$262,200±$24k 17% 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 | — | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,208±$438Highest about the VT average |
| Middletown Springs and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,595 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest 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 | 8.7% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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.