Compare towns
Peacham vs Reading vs Ripton vs Wardsboro
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 renters (23.9% rent).
Reading has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 | Reading | Ripton | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 887Highest |
699 |
508Lowest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Peacham and Wardsboro 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Peacham and Ripton 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% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,000±$28k 11% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
| Ripton 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±$64k 5% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$299,300±$47kLowest 5% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,028±$248Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
— | $1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.