Compare towns
Reading vs White River Junction 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 expensive homes ($377k median).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Cavendish has the highest household income ($89k).
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 | White River Junction | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
3,364Highest |
1,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
| Reading and Cavendish 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% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$77,168±$4kLowest 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 |
$278,800±$78kLowest 12% 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±$331 11% below VT |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
| White River Junction 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 |
$5,651 12% above VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and White River Junction 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% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 7 yrs older than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest 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 | — | 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 → |
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.