Compare towns

Guilford 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

Guilford 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.

MeasureGuilfordPeachamReading
People
Population
2,461Highest
887
699Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
0%
VT: +2.8%
-2.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
46.7±5.2Lowest
8% 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
17.5%±4.9Lowest
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+
27.6%±4Lowest
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+
44.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
46%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±2.4Lowest
VT: 7%
5.4%±4Highest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5
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
$75,243±$6kLowest
7% 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
$312,600±$39k
about the VT average
$302,000±$64kLowest
5% below VT
$377,200±$72kHighest
19% above VT
Reading and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,283±$273Highest
4% above VT
$1,028±$248Lowest
17% below VT
$1,100±$331
11% below VT
Guilford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,827Highest
16% above VT
$5,605Lowest
11% above VT
$5,754
14% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±19.4Lowest
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
10.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
10.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.4%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.1%
VT: 73.2%
76.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1976
same as VT
1969Lowest
7 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
7% above VT
31 min
31% above VT
33 minHighest
41% above VT
Work from home
16.7%±5.3Lowest
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
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Peacham School District Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
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

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.