Compare towns
Cavendish vs Barnard 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
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Cavendish | Barnard | Reading | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
1,211 |
699Lowest |
1,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
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 | 18.3%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Whitingham 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% |
22%±3.6Lowest 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+ | 39.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| 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 | $89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
| Barnard 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±$40k 10% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$262,300±$30kLowest 17% below VT |
| Barnard and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Barnard and Reading 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 |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Whitingham 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% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Barnard 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 | 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 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.