Compare towns
Bristol vs Peacham vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Peacham has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Bristol | Peacham | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
887 |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Lowest 11% above VT |
50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% 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 | 12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Peacham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Peacham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Peacham and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| Peacham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
$302,000±$64kLowest 5% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
$1,028±$248Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Bristol and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$5,605Lowest 11% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 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 | 10.1% VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.1% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham and Reading 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 | #31 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Peacham School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.