Compare towns
Cavendish vs Putney vs Lincoln 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).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Lincoln has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Putney | Lincoln | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
2,622Highest |
1,394 |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Lincoln 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% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7Lowest 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3 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% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.5% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$96,667±$18kHighest 19% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| Lincoln 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±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$365,200±$30k 15% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Lincoln 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 |
$870±$47 29% 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 | $3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 21% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Lincoln 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Lincoln Town School District | 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 → | 6 photos → | 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.