Compare towns
Cavendish vs Reading vs Williamstown
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).
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
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 | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,242 |
699Lowest |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
42±5Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown 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% |
17%±3.9Lowest 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% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Williamstown 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 |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
| Williamstown 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±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% 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 |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948 22% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,841Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest 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 |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Cavendish 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 | — | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.