Compare towns
Putney vs Reading vs Walpole vs Randolph
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).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Reading | Walpole | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
25,612 |
26,388Highest |
4,843 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
40.9±1.2 5% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
| Reading and Walpole 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% |
22.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Highest 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% |
66.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
$171,500±$16kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$687,100±$20k 107% above U.S. |
$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$8,523 173% above U.S. |
$4,698Lowest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Walpole 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Reading | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | Walpole High | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.3 |
9.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 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.