Compare towns
Reading vs Wallingford vs Danby 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%).
Wallingford has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Danby has the most homeowners (89.3%).
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 | Wallingford | Danby | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
2,286Highest |
1,133 |
1,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
-2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
| Danby 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% |
18.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Wallingford and Reading 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% |
23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Danby 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% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.8% VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9 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 |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
$77,321±$13kLowest 5% 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 |
$261,900±$44kLowest 17% below VT |
$272,400±$41k 14% 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±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$891±$95 28% below VT |
$794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
| Reading and Cavendish 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 |
$4,355 14% below VT |
$4,543 10% below VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Danby 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% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
9.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
89.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1 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 | ||||
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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 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.