Compare towns
Cavendish vs Lowell vs Panton 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).
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k median).
Panton has the most people working from home (26.7%).
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 | Lowell | Panton | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242Highest |
1,070 |
690Lowest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
42.7±3.8 about the VT average |
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%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
24.9%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Panton 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% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
16.7%±2.9 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% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.1% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.3%±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 |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$86,667±$10k 7% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| Cavendish and Panton 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 |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$438,000±$40kHighest 38% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
| Panton and Reading 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 |
$945±$46Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,410±$130Highest 14% above VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Panton 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 |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$6,695Highest 33% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61%±39 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Panton 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% |
9.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Panton and Reading 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 | Lowell 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 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.