Compare towns
Cavendish vs Arlington vs Reading vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cavendish has the most affordable homes ($285k median).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Sharon has the most renters (20.3% 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 | Cavendish | Arlington | Reading | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
2,598Highest |
699Lowest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| Reading and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cavendish and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$84,375±$17kLowest 4% above VT |
| Arlington and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
| Reading and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,191±$172 3% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Reading 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 | — | #50 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Arlington School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | 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.