Compare towns
Reading vs Castleton vs Calais vs Cavendish
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Castleton | Calais | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,713 |
1,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
| Reading and Cavendish 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 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+ | 46% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
| Calais and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
| Calais and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
| Calais and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 14% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,948 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Reading 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Reading 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| 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 | None yet | 18 photos → |
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.