Compare towns
Peacham vs Brookfield vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peacham has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Peacham | Brookfield | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 887 |
1,486Highest |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
47±5.9Lowest 9% 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 | 20.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Peacham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Peacham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Peacham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,000±$28k 11% above VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
| Brookfield and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $302,000±$64kLowest 5% below VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,028±$248 17% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% 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 | $5,605 11% above VT |
$4,560Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest 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% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 31% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.2%±16.9 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Peacham School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | 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.