Compare towns
Cavendish vs Norwich vs Williston 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 most affordable homes ($285k median).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Norwich | Williston | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
3,640 |
10,144Highest |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Williston 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% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Williston 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% |
16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 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% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Norwich 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 |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,460±$322 18% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Williston and Norwich 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Williston 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% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Williston 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 | — | #1 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Norwich School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 Our Story | None yet | 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.