Compare towns
Reading vs Northfield 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%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Northfield | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
5,920Highest |
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±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
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% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$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 |
$274,400±$21kLowest 13% below VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
| Reading and Northfield 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 |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 8.4% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 7 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Cavendish 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 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.