Compare towns
Reading vs Dedham vs Cavendish vs West Fairlee
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
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 | Dedham | Cavendish | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
25,237Highest |
1,242 |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
50.3±7.6 29% above U.S. |
| Reading and West Fairlee 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% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Fairlee 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham 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±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$76,500±$16kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
$237,200±$35kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,113±$171 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,210 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±89.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Dedham 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% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Dedham 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Dedham | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.