Compare towns
Putney vs Reading vs Walden vs Randolph
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%).
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Walden | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
699Lowest |
1,037 |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
| Reading and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Randolph 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% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Randolph 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 VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
| Walden 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 |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
| Reading and Putney 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 |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
$1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
| Randolph 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 |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Walden 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Walden 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 | — | — | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.4 |
| 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.