Compare towns
Reading vs Montpelier 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%).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% rent).
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 | Montpelier | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
8,014Highest |
1,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
42.3±2.4Lowest 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%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Cavendish 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%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Montpelier 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% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Montpelier 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 VT |
$81,030±$6kLowest about the VT average |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
| Cavendish and Reading 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 |
$375,100±$21k 18% above VT |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
| Reading and Montpelier 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 |
$1,302±$113Highest 6% above VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
| Montpelier 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 |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.5% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 7 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Montpelier 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 | — | #9 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Montpelier High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.