Compare towns
Reading vs Sheldon vs Castleton 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%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Cavendish has the highest household income ($89k).
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 | Sheldon | Castleton | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
2,267 |
4,453Highest |
1,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% 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%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Castleton 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% 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±$331 11% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
| Sheldon and Castleton 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,948 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Reading 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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 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.