Compare towns
Putney vs Reading vs St. George
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 most affordable homes ($300k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
St. George has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
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 | St. George |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
699Lowest |
812 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+17.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
44.7±13.4 4% above VT |
| Reading and St. George 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% |
25.6%±7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| St. George 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% |
15.9%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.9%±3.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$109,464±$34kHighest 35% above VT |
| St. George 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±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$376,800±$50k 19% above VT |
| Reading and St. George 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 |
$1,394±$132Highest 13% above VT |
| St. George 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,514 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
96%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| St. George 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% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
91.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.6%±8.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| St. George 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 | — |
| High school 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.