Compare towns
Brookfield vs Cavendish vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($153k median).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Brookfield | Cavendish | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,150Highest |
1,242 |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±6.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $69,205±$9kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
| Cavendish and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $152,800±$28kLowest 54% below U.S. |
$285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $981±$75Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,197Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,948 27% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±35.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Cavendish 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 | 18 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.