Compare towns
Putney vs Randolph vs Reading vs Westminster
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).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Randolph | Reading | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
4,843Highest |
699Lowest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Westminster and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
| Reading and Putney 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 |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% 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 |
$1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
| Randolph and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Lowest 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% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4Lowest |
— | 10.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.