Compare towns
Cavendish vs Strafford vs Richmond vs Reading
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 most affordable homes ($285k median).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Richmond has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Strafford | Richmond | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
1,372 |
4,159Highest |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Richmond 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% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest 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% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 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 |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
| Strafford and Richmond 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 |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
| Richmond and Strafford 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 |
$6,868 36% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest 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% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Richmond 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 | — | — | #5 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Strafford School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | 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.