Compare towns

Cavendish vs Strafford vs Reading vs Baltimore

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).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Baltimore has the most affordable homes ($219k 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.

MeasureCavendishStraffordReadingBaltimore
People
Population
1,242
1,372Highest
699
361Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.8%
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
45.2±5.9Lowest
5% above VT
51.4±4.7Highest
19% above VT
51.1±7.6
19% above VT
51.2±10.3
19% above VT
Strafford and Baltimore 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%
23%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.5%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
8.9%±6.7Lowest
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%
22.1%±3.4
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±3.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
14.7%±4.2Lowest
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%
53.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
46%
VT: 43.8%
25.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9
VT: 7%
5.1%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5
VT: 7%
2.2%±2.7Lowest
VT: 7%
Strafford 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
$110,833±$19kHighest
36% above VT
$85,000±$19kLowest
5% above VT
$107,500±$16k
32% above VT
Strafford and Baltimore 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
$431,300±$40kHighest
36% above VT
$377,200±$72k
19% above VT
$219,400±$27kLowest
31% 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
$1,125±$789Highest
9% below VT
$1,100±$331
11% below VT
—
Strafford 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
$7,149Highest
42% above VT
$5,754
14% above VT
$4,329
14% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.9%±27
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±48
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
26.7%±100Lowest
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%
5.2%
VT: 10.1%
8.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
1.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.3%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
85.8%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
8 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1969
7 yrs older than VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
21% below VT
23 min
about the VT average
33 minHighest
41% above VT
21 min
11% below VT
Work from home
18.5%±6.6
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
9.8%±4.4Lowest
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 Strafford School District Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 —
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.