Compare towns
Barnet vs Reading vs Windham 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 most expensive homes ($377k median).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
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 | Windham | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855Highest |
699 |
594Lowest |
887 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest 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%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Peacham and Barnet 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% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Peacham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$90,000±$28k 11% above VT |
| Windham 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±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
| Reading and Windham 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 |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$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% |
41.2%±94Lowest 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% 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 |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 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 | — | Peacham School District |
| 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.