Compare towns
Reading vs Putney vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
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 | Reading | Putney | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699 |
2,622Highest |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Reading and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Reading and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$290,700±$37kLowest 8% 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 | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,000Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest 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 | 8.4% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| 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.