Compare towns
Cavendish vs Chelsea 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Chelsea has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | Chelsea | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,242Highest |
1,223 |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
| Chelsea and Reading 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% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Chelsea 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% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Chelsea and Cavendish 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 |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% 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 |
$260,900±$39kLowest 18% 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 |
$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Chelsea 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 |
$3,762Lowest 25% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea and Reading 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% |
14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1969Highest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | 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.