Compare towns
Reading vs Plainfield vs Montgomery 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%).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Plainfield | Montgomery | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,314Highest |
1,047 |
1,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
| Montgomery and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4Lowest 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%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery 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% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 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 |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% 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 |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
| Reading and Montgomery 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 |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
| Plainfield 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 |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,326 14% below VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Plainfield 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% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9Lowest 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 | ||||
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.