Compare towns

Cavendish vs Dover vs Reading vs Windham

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).
Dover has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).

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.

MeasureCavendishDoverReadingWindham
People
Population
1,242
1,466Highest
699
594Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+3.2%
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
45.2±5.9
5% above VT
53.5±8.3Highest
24% above VT
51.1±7.6
19% above VT
44.2±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
Dover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.3%±4.8
VT: 17.9%
10.2%±5.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.5%±4.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
Reading and Cavendish 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%
29.5%±6.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±8.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Dover 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%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
46%
VT: 43.8%
48.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9Highest
VT: 7%
2.5%±2.9
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
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
$52,313±$7kLowest
36% below VT
$85,000±$19k
5% above VT
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
Windham 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
$332,900±$55k
5% above VT
$377,200±$72kHighest
19% above VT
$353,900±$20k
12% above VT
Reading and Windham 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
$670±$49Lowest
46% below VT
$1,100±$331Highest
11% below VT
—
Reading and Cavendish 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
$4,510
10% below VT
$5,754
14% above VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.9%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
38.1%±17.2
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
Reading and Windham 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%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
8.4%
VT: 10.1%
9.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.3%
VT: 73.2%
81.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
8 yrs older than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1969
7 yrs older than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
21% below VT
22 min
6% below VT
33 minHighest
41% above VT
27 min
14% above VT
Work from home
18.5%±6.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.2%±11.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
Dover and Reading 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 River Valleys Unified School District #73 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 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.