Compare towns
Reading vs Appleton vs Cavendish vs Middletown Springs
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Middletown Springs has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Reading | Appleton | Cavendish | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,360Highest |
1,242 |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9Lowest 16% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
| Reading and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middletown Springs and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cavendish and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$82,000±$12k about the U.S. average |
| Cavendish and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
$262,200±$24k 21% below U.S. |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,208±$438Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Middletown Springs and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,948 27% above U.S. |
$4,595 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Appleton Public Schools | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.