Compare towns
Athens 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
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
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 | Athens | Cavendish | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
1,242Highest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5Lowest 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+ | 21.6%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Athens and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| Cavendish and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Highest 9% below VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Athens and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438 8% above VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Athens 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 History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.