Compare towns
Barton vs Cavendish vs Reading vs Wells River
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).
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 | Barton | Cavendish | Reading | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
1,242Highest |
699 |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest 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+ | 21.7% VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cavendish and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8k 50% below VT |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below 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 | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$900±$336 27% below VT |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,948 22% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,154 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1969Highest 7 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Cavendish 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| 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 | 18 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.