Compare towns
Reading vs Putney vs Townshend vs West Windsor
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 housing (typical home built 1969).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
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 | West Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
2,622Highest |
1,538 |
1,171 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+22.3%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 |
54±5.9 25% above VT |
| Townshend and West Windsor 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%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±10Highest VT: 17.9% |
| West Windsor 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% |
19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
59.7%Highest 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% |
6.1%±3.6 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 |
$108,750±$18kHighest 34% above VT |
| West Windsor 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 |
$393,500±$41kHighest 24% above VT |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$1,100±$217Highest 11% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 14% above VT |
$5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
$5,860Highest 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Reading 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% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest 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 |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±3.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Mount Ascutney School District #86 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town |
| 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.