Compare towns

Reading vs Ripton vs Cornwall 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 oldest population (median age 51.1).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
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.

MeasureReadingRiptonCornwallCavendish
People
Population
699
508Lowest
1,208
1,242Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
+1.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.1±7.6Highest
19% above VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
50.4±4.6
17% above VT
45.2±5.9Lowest
5% above VT
Reading and Cornwall 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%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.7%±3Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.3%±4.8
VT: 17.9%
Cornwall 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%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
25.7%±6.1
VT: 21.4%
23.6%±2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Ripton 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%
VT: 43.8%
54.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
39.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
3.7%±3.1
VT: 7%
4.3%±1.9
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$85,000±$19kLowest
5% above VT
$112,917±$15k
39% above VT
$114,583±$32kHighest
41% above VT
$89,063±$29k
10% above VT
Cornwall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$377,200±$72k
19% above VT
$394,400±$61k
25% above VT
$458,000±$49kHighest
45% above VT
$285,100±$40kLowest
10% below VT
Cornwall and Ripton 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
—
$1,125±$206Highest
9% below VT
$1,000±$546Lowest
19% below VT
Cornwall 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
$4,915
about the VT average
$6,726Highest
33% above VT
$3,948Lowest
22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
61.9%±65.5
VT: 48.4%
28.9%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Reading and Cornwall 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%
8.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
0.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
6.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%
VT: 73.2%
94.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
81.3%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969
7 yrs older than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1976Highest
same as VT
1968Lowest
8 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
41% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
24 min
about the VT average
19 minLowest
21% below VT
Work from home
22.9%±10.6
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
24.4%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
18.5%±6.6
VT: 16.9%
Cornwall and Reading 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 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 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 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.