Compare towns
Cavendish vs Fairlee vs Reading vs Baltimore
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 youngest population (median age 45.2).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Baltimore has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Fairlee | Reading | Baltimore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242Highest |
1,066 |
699 |
361Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
51.2±10.3 19% above VT |
| Fairlee and Baltimore 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% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
8.9%±6.7Lowest 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% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
25.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.2%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee 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 VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$107,500±$16kHighest 32% above VT |
| Baltimore 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 10% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$219,400±$27kLowest 31% below 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 |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
— |
| Reading and Fairlee 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 |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,329 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
26.7%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Reading 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% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
1.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±4.4Lowest 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | 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 Our Story | None yet | 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.