Compare towns
Cavendish vs Dummerston vs Putney 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 most affordable homes ($285k median).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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 | Dummerston | Putney | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
2,090 |
2,622Highest |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Dummerston 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% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Dummerston 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Dummerston 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 |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Putney 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 21% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Reading 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None 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.