Compare towns
Putney vs Reading vs Wheelock
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%).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k 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 | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
699Lowest |
717 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
51±5.6 18% above VT |
| Reading and Wheelock 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% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock 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%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Reading 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% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
| Reading and Putney 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 |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% 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±$331Highest 11% below VT |
— |
| Reading and Putney 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 |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Wheelock 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 | 6 photos → | 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.