Compare towns
Reading vs Cornwall vs Braintree 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Cornwall has the highest household income ($115k).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
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 | Cornwall | Braintree | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,208 |
1,026 |
1,242Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
| Braintree 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% |
18.7%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Cornwall 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% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Cavendish and Cornwall 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 |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$79,803±$5kLowest about the VT average |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
| Cornwall 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 |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
| Cornwall 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 |
$1,125±$206Highest 9% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
| Cornwall and Reading 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 |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$3,948 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Cornwall 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% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
26 min 11% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Reading 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | 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.