Compare towns
Marshfield vs Peacham vs Reading vs Belvidere
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($178k median).
Peacham has the most renters (23.9% rent).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Belvidere has the most kids (22% under 18).
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 | Marshfield | Peacham | Reading | Belvidere |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 470 |
887Highest |
699 |
422Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 42.4±8.8 about the VT average |
50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT |
| Reading and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Belvidere and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 10.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest 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+ | 35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
35.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Peacham and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$20k 4% above VT |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$81,563±$18kLowest about the VT average |
| Peacham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $178,300±$31kLowest 44% below VT |
$302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$239,200±$51k 24% below VT |
| Reading and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$79 9% below VT |
$1,028±$248Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
| Belvidere and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,269Lowest 35% below VT |
$5,605 11% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±62.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2% VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 24% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.5%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6Lowest 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 | 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.