Compare towns
Andover vs Bridgewater vs Cavendish vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% 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 | Andover | Bridgewater | Cavendish | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
980 |
1,242Highest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| Andover and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% 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 | $1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190 about the VT average |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$3,948 22% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.