Compare towns
Cabot vs Reading vs Wheelock vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cabot has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
Walden has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Cabot | Reading | Wheelock | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,579Highest |
699Lowest |
717 |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.3±6.6Lowest 6% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
51±5.6 18% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Reading and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Cabot and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.7% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Walden and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,031±$16k 5% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
| Walden and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,500±$77k 15% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
| Reading and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,243±$354Highest about the VT average |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
— | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Cabot and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,639 8% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 27% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.