Compare towns
Reading vs Unity vs Windham vs Cavendish
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%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Unity | Windham | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
1,375Highest |
594Lowest |
1,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
| Unity 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 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
| Windham 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. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
| Reading and Windham 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. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
— | $1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Unity and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$5,394 73% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Windham 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% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Windham 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 | Unity School District | — | 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 → |
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.