Compare towns
Putney vs Reading vs Sutton vs Arlington
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 renters (27.2% rent).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Sutton | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
699Lowest |
790 |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
37.6±4 13% below VT |
| Reading and Sutton 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% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Reading 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% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
| Arlington 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±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
| Reading and Arlington 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 |
— | $1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
| Arlington and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington 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% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington 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 | — | — | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.