Compare towns
Reading vs Dummerston vs Putney 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%).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Cavendish has the most affordable homes ($285k 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 | Dummerston | Putney | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
2,090 |
2,622Highest |
1,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
| Reading and Dummerston 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% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston 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 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Dummerston 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
| Dummerston 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±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
| Reading and Dummerston 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 |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
| Dummerston and Reading 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 |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Putney 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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.