Compare towns
Reading vs Surry vs Cavendish vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k 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.
| Measure | Reading | Surry | Cavendish | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,052 |
1,242Highest |
980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
44.7±5.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Surry 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±0.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bridgewater 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry and Bridgewater 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 U.S. |
$110,125±$25kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Surry 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±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$331,400±$23k about the U.S. average |
$285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
$218,300±$55kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Reading and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
$850±$778Lowest 40% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$6,384Highest 105% above U.S. |
$3,948 27% above U.S. |
$3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±74.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 18 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.