Compare towns
Cavendish vs Mapleton vs Waterville vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Mapleton | Waterville | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
1,884Highest |
680Lowest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Reading and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville and Mapleton 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 U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
| Mapleton 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 14% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| 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 29% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93Highest 21% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
| Waterville and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948 27% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | 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 |
U.S. 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.