Compare towns
Cavendish vs Fairfax vs Reading vs Sharon
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).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Sharon has the most renters (20.3% rent).
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 | Fairfax | Reading | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
5,226Highest |
699Lowest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| Reading and Sharon 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% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Sharon 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% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Sharon 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% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$84,375±$17kLowest 4% above VT |
| Fairfax 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 |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
| Fairfax and Reading 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 |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon 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 |
$5,497 9% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Fairfax 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax 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 | — | #36 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Fairfax School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.