Compare towns
Cavendish vs Highgate vs Sheldon 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Highgate | Sheldon | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
3,528Highest |
2,267 |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Cavendish 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%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Cavendish 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% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 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±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| Cavendish and Reading 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 |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above 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±$546 19% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Sheldon and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948 22% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Highgate 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Cavendish 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | 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.