Compare towns
Reading vs Windham vs Calais 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 oldest population (median age 51.1).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | Windham | Calais | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
594Lowest |
1,713Highest |
1,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
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%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Cavendish 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 VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
| Calais and Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
| Calais 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 |
— | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
| Calais and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 14% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Calais 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% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Reading 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 | 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.