Compare towns
Putney vs Jay vs Reading vs Brookline
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).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Brookline has the most kids (20% 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 | Putney | Jay | Reading | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
471Lowest |
699 |
531 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% 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 | 15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Reading and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% 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 |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 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 | 16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.