Compare towns
Reading vs Newfane vs Westminster 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 the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Newfane | Westminster | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
1,456Highest |
497Lowest |
1,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
| Newfane 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% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane 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% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Cavendish and Reading 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 |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$81,000±$22k 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 |
$284,200±$49kLowest 10% below VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
| Reading and Westminster 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 |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
| Newfane 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 |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Newfane 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% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1971Highest 5 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Westminster 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — | 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 → |
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.