Compare towns
Reading vs Danvers vs West Windsor vs Cavendish
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 people working from home (22.9%).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
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 | Danvers | West Windsor | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
28,098Highest |
1,171 |
1,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+22.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
54±5.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| West Windsor 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±10Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| West Windsor 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% |
22.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Windsor and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$108,750±$18k 35% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
| Danvers and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$393,500±$41k 18% above U.S. |
$285,100±$40kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,100±$217 22% below U.S. |
$1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$5,860 88% above U.S. |
$3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Danvers 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 | — | #91 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Mount Ascutney School District #86 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school 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 → |
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.