Compare towns
Cavendish vs Jay vs Putney 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 highest household income ($89k).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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 | Jay | Putney | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
471Lowest |
2,622Highest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
| Jay and Reading 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Putney 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 |
— | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% 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 | $3,948 22% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Putney 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 21% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.