Compare towns
Burke vs Cavendish vs Reading vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burke has the most kids (23% under 18).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k 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 | Burke | Cavendish | Reading | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,317 |
1,242 |
699Lowest |
1,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.1±4.8Lowest 5% below VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
| Reading and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Burke and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4% VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cavendish and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,143±$17k 7% above VT |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
| Cavendish and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,600±$18k 8% above VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$262,300±$30kLowest 17% below VT |
| Reading and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $938±$191 24% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% 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 | $5,177 about the VT average |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.6%±31Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Burke and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Burke and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| 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.