Compare towns
Braintree vs Cavendish vs Cornwall vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Cornwall has the highest household income ($115k).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Braintree | Cavendish | Cornwall | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
1,242Highest |
1,208 |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
| Braintree and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Cornwall and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cavendish and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5kLowest about the VT average |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| Cornwall and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
| Cornwall and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$1,125±$206Highest 9% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Cornwall and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$3,948 22% below VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.