Compare towns
Peacham vs Reading vs Ripton vs West Fairlee
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 kids (20.7% under 18).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
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 | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 887Highest |
699 |
508Lowest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| Reading and West Fairlee 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% |
13.5%±5.1 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+ | 33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7 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% |
44.6%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% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest 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 |
$76,500±$16kLowest 6% 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 |
$237,200±$35kLowest 25% 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 |
— | $1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
| West Fairlee 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 |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,210 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6Lowest 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% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest 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 |
28 min 20% 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% |
5.5%±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 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| 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.