Compare towns
Cavendish vs Reading vs Swanton
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Swanton has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
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 | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,242 |
699Lowest |
2,670Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
| Reading and Cavendish 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% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton 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% |
19.3%±2.7Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cavendish and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
| Cavendish and Reading 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±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
| Reading and Cavendish 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 |
$1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
| Swanton 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,370 13% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Swanton 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% VT: 10.1% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1969Highest 7 yrs older than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
21 min 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest 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 | — |
| High school 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.