Compare towns

Putney vs Reading vs Monkton 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).
Monkton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).

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.

MeasurePutneyReadingMonktonUnderhill
People
Population
2,622
699Lowest
1,999
3,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.2%
VT: +2.8%
+5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+3.7%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
51.1±7.6Highest
19% above VT
47.1±5.4
9% above VT
38.1±11.4
12% below VT
Reading and Monkton 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%
18.1%±3.8
VT: 17.9%
27.8%±10.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
Underhill 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
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±3.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.2%±2.8
VT: 21.4%
17.6%±6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.6%
VT: 43.8%
46%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
50%
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%
2.3%±1.4Lowest
VT: 7%
3.5%±2
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the VT average
$85,000±$19k
5% above VT
$119,688±$28kHighest
47% above VT
$92,267±$54k
14% above VT
Monkton and Underhill 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±$72k
19% above VT
$379,900±$18k
20% above VT
$446,000±$24kHighest
41% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
59% below VT
$1,100±$331
11% below VT
$1,301±$120Highest
5% above VT
—
Monkton and Reading 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
$5,754
14% above VT
$5,887
17% above 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%
62.1%±64
VT: 48.4%
0%±18.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Reading and Monkton 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%
4.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
6.4%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
96.6%Highest
VT: 73.2%
79.8%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1969Lowest
7 yrs older than VT
1988Highest
12 yrs newer than VT
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
24% below VT
33 minHighest
41% above VT
29 min
24% above VT
33 min
39% above VT
Work from home
16.9%±6.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6
VT: 16.9%
26.7%±4.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
19.4%±11.3
VT: 16.9%
Monkton 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 — — #2 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401
High school in town None in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 6 photos → 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.