Compare towns

Putney vs Randolph vs Reading

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

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.

MeasurePutneyRandolphReading
People
Population
2,622Lowest
4,843
25,612Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
40.4±7.4
4% above U.S.
43.7±2.3Highest
12% above U.S.
Reading and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.3%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Reading and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.9%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±2.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Randolph and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
40.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
66.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
11.2%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18k
about the U.S. average
$76,758±$6kLowest
5% below U.S.
$165,912±$13kHighest
106% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$300,000±$44k
10% below U.S.
$278,700±$38kLowest
16% below U.S.
$809,000±$22kHighest
143% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,172±$173
17% below U.S.
$1,991±$273Highest
41% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313
70% above U.S.
$4,698Lowest
51% above U.S.
$9,320Highest
199% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.1%±17.8
U.S.: 51.1%
27.8%±9.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
21 min
22% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
12.9%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.2%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #32 of 70 in VT #55 of 70 in VT #50 of 282 in MA
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Reading
High school in town None in town Randolph Union High School Reading Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.4Lowest
12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 6 photos → None yet None yet

U.S. 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.