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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Peacham has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Reading has the most homeowners (84.9%).
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 | 1,990Highest |
887 |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
50.1±5.7Lowest 16% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
| Ludlow and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±6Lowest 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+ | 31.1%±2 VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Peacham and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ludlow and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,885±$14kLowest 32% 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 | $370,200±$46k 17% above 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 | $1,112±$151Highest 10% below VT |
$1,028±$248Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Ludlow and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,890Lowest about the VT average |
$5,605 11% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.2%±25.2Lowest 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 | 5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.1% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.2Lowest 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 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | 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.