Compare towns
Cavendish vs Castleton vs Northfield vs Reading
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).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Castleton | Northfield | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
4,453 |
5,920Highest |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Cavendish 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% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Cavendish 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% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above 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±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Castleton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948 22% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Northfield 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
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| 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.