Compare towns
Putney vs Reading vs Cabot vs Underhill
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).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Cabot has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Underhill has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
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 | Cabot | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
699Lowest |
1,579 |
3,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+0.7% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
40.3±6.6 6% below VT |
38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
| Reading and Cabot 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Cabot 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
44.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$77,031±$16kLowest 5% below VT |
$92,267±$54kHighest 14% above VT |
| Underhill 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 5% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$268,500±$77kLowest 15% below VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
| Underhill and Reading 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 |
$1,243±$354Highest about the VT average |
— |
| Cabot 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 |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$4,639Lowest 8% below VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
9% VT: 10.1% |
6.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
30 min 27% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Cabot 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 | — | — | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.