Compare towns

Cavendish vs Sutton vs Waterville 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).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
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.

MeasureCavendishSuttonWatervilleReading
People
Population
1,242Highest
790
680Lowest
699
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.8%
VT: +2.8%
-11.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
+3.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.2±5.9Lowest
5% above VT
46.6±5.7
8% above VT
49.1±8.2
14% above VT
51.1±7.6Highest
19% above VT
Reading and Waterville 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%
17.3%±3.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
20.4%±8.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.5%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
Waterville 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%
21.6%±2.7
VT: 21.4%
14.4%±3.5Lowest
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%
32.8%
VT: 43.8%
32.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.8Lowest
VT: 7%
5.3%±3.3Highest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5
VT: 7%
Waterville 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
$71,250±$18kLowest
12% below VT
$71,250±$27kLowest
12% below VT
$85,000±$19k
5% above 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
$231,100±$41kLowest
27% below VT
$236,300±$15k
25% below VT
$377,200±$72kHighest
19% above 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
—
$1,110±$93Highest
10% below VT
$1,100±$331
11% below VT
Waterville 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
$3,975
21% below VT
$3,957
21% below VT
$5,754Highest
14% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.9%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
37.8%±31.1
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±27.2
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
Reading and Waterville 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%
12.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.4%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.3%
VT: 73.2%
85%Highest
VT: 73.2%
79.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
8 yrs older than VT
1979Highest
3 yrs newer than VT
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1969
7 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
21% below VT
30 min
26% above VT
38 minHighest
60% above VT
33 min
41% above VT
Work from home
18.5%±6.6
VT: 16.9%
11.6%±5.3
VT: 16.9%
8.5%±3Lowest
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 Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A 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.