Compare towns
Putney vs Reading vs Strafford vs Brookline
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
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 | Strafford | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
699 |
1,372 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Brookline 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%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Strafford 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% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Strafford 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±$44k 5% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
| Strafford and Reading 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 |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Brookline and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,000Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Brookline 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 | Strafford School District | — |
| High school 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.