Compare towns
Cavendish vs Upton vs Whitingham vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Upton | Whitingham | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
8,189Highest |
1,368 |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 16% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Reading and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitingham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cavendish and Reading 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 U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
$948±$599 33% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,055 62% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
7.8Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.