Compare towns
Cavendish vs Reading vs Shelburne
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).
Reading has the most homeowners (84.9%).
Shelburne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,242 |
699Lowest |
7,969Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
50.9±3.2 18% above VT |
| Reading and Shelburne 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Shelburne and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Shelburne and Cavendish 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 |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
| Shelburne 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,442±$589Highest 17% above VT |
| Shelburne and Reading 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 |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Shelburne 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% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Reading 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 | — | — | #8 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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 |
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.