Compare towns
Cavendish vs Reading vs Whitingham vs Ludlow
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 people working from home (22.9%).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Ludlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Whitingham | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
699Lowest |
1,368 |
1,990Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
| Ludlow 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% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham 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% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Ludlow 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±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% 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 |
$262,300±$30kLowest 17% below VT |
$370,200±$46k 17% above VT |
| Reading and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,112±$151Highest 10% below VT |
| Ludlow 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 |
$5,055 about the VT average |
$4,890 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Ludlow 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
— |
| 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.