Compare towns
Putney vs Reading vs Fairlee
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
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 | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
699Lowest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
| Fairlee 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% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest 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% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% 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 |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Reading and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Reading 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Putney 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.