Compare towns
Cavendish vs Hardwick vs Reading vs Lincoln
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).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Lincoln has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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 | Hardwick | Reading | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
2,965Highest |
699Lowest |
1,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
| Reading and Hardwick 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% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7Lowest 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% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Hardwick 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% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1 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 |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$96,667±$18kHighest 19% above VT |
| Lincoln and Hardwick 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 |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$365,200±$30k 15% above VT |
| Reading and Lincoln 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 |
$875±$406 29% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$870±$47Lowest 29% 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 |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Lincoln 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% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1962Lowest 14 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 |
29 min 23% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Lincoln 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 | — | #68 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Lincoln Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— | — |
| 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.