Compare towns
Chester 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
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
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 | Chester | Peacham | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
887 |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Lowest 15% 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 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest 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+ | 29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Peacham and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Peacham and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% 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 | $232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,028±$248 17% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% 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 | $4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$5,605 11% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest 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 | 7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 18% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Peacham School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.