Compare towns

Cavendish vs Strafford vs Vershire 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k median).
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.

MeasureCavendishStraffordVershireReading
People
Population
1,242
1,372Highest
842
699Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.8%
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%
VT: +2.8%
-7.9%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
45.7±9.3
6% above VT
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%
19.1%±4.5
VT: 17.9%
18.5%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
Strafford and Vershire 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%±3.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
22.2%±5
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%
VT: 43.8%
53.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
31.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9
VT: 7%
5.1%±2.6
VT: 7%
5.2%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
Vershire and Strafford 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
$71,618±$12kLowest
12% below VT
$85,000±$19k
5% above VT
Strafford 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
$431,300±$40kHighest
36% above VT
$209,100±$55kLowest
34% below VT
$377,200±$72k
19% above 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
$1,117±$80
9% below VT
$1,100±$331
11% below VT
Strafford and Vershire 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
$4,640
8% below VT
$5,754
14% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.9%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±48
VT: 48.4%
77.8%±24.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7
VT: 48.4%
Vershire and Reading 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%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
19.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.4%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.3%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
81.5%
VT: 73.2%
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
8 yrs older than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1985Highest
9 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
32 min
38% above VT
33 minHighest
41% above VT
Work from home
18.5%±6.6
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
12.3%±4.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6Highest
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.