Compare towns
Cavendish vs Reading vs Salem vs Whitingham
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).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k 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 | Reading | Salem | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
699Lowest |
44,795Highest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
| Reading and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whitingham and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitingham and Reading 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% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Cavendish and Salem 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. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$5,055 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Salem 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 | — | — | #248 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Salem | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Salem High | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8Highest |
7.8Lowest |
| 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.