Compare towns
Reading vs Townshend vs Cavendish vs Andover
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%).
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Andover has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Townshend | Cavendish | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
1,538Highest |
1,242 |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Townshend 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% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest 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%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 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% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 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 |
$78,750±$29kLowest 3% below VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
| Andover 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 |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
| Andover 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 |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
| Andover 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 |
$5,364 6% above VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Andover 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Townshend 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1 |
— | — |
| 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.