Compare towns
Cavendish vs Durham vs Whitingham vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
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 | Durham | Whitingham | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
4,262Highest |
1,368 |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
42.6±5.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Whitingham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Durham 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±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$99,181±$5kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
| Durham 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±$40k 14% below U.S. |
$322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Reading and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
— | $673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948 27% above U.S. |
$3,781Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$5,055 62% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±40.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Durham 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 | — | #14 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | RSU 05 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.