Compare towns
Reading vs Putney vs Townshend vs Andover
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 most kids (18.5% under 18).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Andover has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Townshend | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
2,622Highest |
1,538 |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Townshend and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Putney 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% |
19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$78,750±$29kLowest 3% below VT |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
| Andover 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±$72k 19% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
| Andover and Reading 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 |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
$5,190Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Andover 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Townshend 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.