Compare towns
Windsor vs Reading vs Cavendish vs Royalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Royalton has the highest household income ($104k).
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 | Windsor | Reading | Cavendish | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,554Highest |
699Lowest |
1,242 |
2,752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
43.9±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.7% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Royalton and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
| Royalton and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$263,200±$73k 17% 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 | $1,026±$89 17% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
| Reading and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,209 3% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,675 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.5%±17 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
63.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1969Highest 7 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1965 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 3% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #61 of 70 in VT | — | — | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.