Compare towns
Reading vs Whitingham vs West Haven 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).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
West Haven has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
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 | Whitingham | West Haven | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
1,368Highest |
234Lowest |
1,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
54±10.5Highest 25% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
| West Haven 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% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±13.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham 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 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.9%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and West Haven 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% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest 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 |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$85,250±$29k 5% above VT |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
| Cavendish and West Haven 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 |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$245,000±$34kLowest 23% 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 |
$673±$150Lowest 45% 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 |
$5,055 about the VT average |
$4,485 11% below VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Whitingham 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.3% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±6.5 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.