Compare towns
Putney vs Reading vs Dover
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 youngest population (median age 37.2).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
699Lowest |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
| Dover 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Putney 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover 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% VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% 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±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
| Reading and Dover 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±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$670±$49 46% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest 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% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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 |
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.