Compare towns
Barnet vs Reading vs Ripton vs Peacham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Peacham has the most people working from home (24.2%).
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 | Barnet | Reading | Ripton | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855Highest |
699 |
508Lowest |
887 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3Lowest 11% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
| Reading and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Peacham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$90,000±$28k 11% above VT |
| Ripton and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24kLowest 22% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
— | $1,028±$248 17% below VT |
| Reading and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489Lowest 11% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,605 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Peacham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Peacham School District |
| High school in town | None 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.