Compare towns
Cavendish vs Reading vs Strafford vs Wilder
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 youngest population (median age 45.2).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Strafford | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
699Lowest |
1,372 |
3,087Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
| Strafford and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Wilder 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% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Strafford 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±$19k 5% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
| Strafford 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 10% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
| Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT |
| Wilder and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Strafford 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 21% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Strafford School District | — |
| High school 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.