Compare towns
Ludlow 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
Ludlow has the most renters (48.6% rent).
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 | Ludlow | Peacham | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 808 |
887Highest |
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 | 48.7±5.6Lowest 13% 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 | 13.1%±3.7Lowest 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+ | 30.4%±0.5 VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest 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 | $56,667±$19kLowest 30% 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 | $304,000±$32k 4% below VT |
$302,000±$64kLowest 5% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$91Lowest 18% 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 | $4,237Lowest 16% below VT |
$5,605 11% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33%±13.8Lowest 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 | 8.7% VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.1% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.3%±6.4Lowest 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 | — | Peacham School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school 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.