Compare towns
Putney vs Reading vs Ripton vs Westmoreland
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 youngest population (median age 37.2).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Westmoreland has the oldest population (median age 55.3).
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 | Ripton | Westmoreland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
699 |
508Lowest |
2,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
55.3±2.2Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Westmoreland 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westmoreland and Ripton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$104,444±$28k 29% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Westmoreland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$351,800±$12k 6% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,354±$280Highest 4% below U.S. |
| Westmoreland 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. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$6,643Highest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.5%±23.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Westmoreland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.