Compare towns
Reading vs Bellows Falls vs Cavendish vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Bellows Falls has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Reading | Bellows Falls | Cavendish | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
2,891Highest |
1,242 |
980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
41.3±6.7Lowest 4% below VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Bridgewater 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 VT |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$70,272±$3k 13% below 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 | $377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$1,038±$109 16% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
| Reading and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,448 12% below VT |
$3,948 22% below VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.