Compare towns
Cavendish vs Reading vs Townshend
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 the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,242 |
699Lowest |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend 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%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest 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% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest 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 |
$78,750±$29kLowest 3% 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±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Reading and Townshend 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±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Reading and Townshend 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 |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Reading 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Reading 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.