Compare towns
Reading vs Putney vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
2,622Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Reading and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Reading 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±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Reading and Middlesex 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 14% above VT |
$5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 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 | 8.4% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.