Compare towns
Cavendish vs Barre 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 highest household income ($89k).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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 | Barre | Reading | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
8,412Highest |
699Lowest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest 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%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham and Reading 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% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest 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% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cavendish and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
| Cavendish and Reading 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 |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
| Reading and Cavendish 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 |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Reading and Barre 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 |
$5,192 3% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1947Lowest 29 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 |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Cavendish 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
— | 7.8Lowest |
| 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.