Compare towns
Reading vs Stratton vs Dover 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 homeowners (84.9%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Dover has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
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 | Stratton | Dover | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
532Lowest |
1,466Highest |
1,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
— | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
| Dover 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover 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% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
| Stratton and Cavendish 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
| Stratton and Reading 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 |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover 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 | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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.