Compare towns
Peacham vs Reading vs Springfield vs Marshfield
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 highest household income ($90k).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Marshfield has the most kids (24.2% 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 | Peacham | Reading | Springfield | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 887 |
699Lowest |
9,084Highest |
1,863 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
38.7±6.1Lowest 10% 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 | 20.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
24.2%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Marshfield and Peacham 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% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest 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+ | 48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Peacham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$60,313±$10kLowest 26% below 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 | $302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$214,100±$37k 32% 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 | $1,028±$248 17% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,317±$126Highest 7% above VT |
| Marshfield 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 |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$3,668Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
65.7%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Peacham and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.1% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.2%±16.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.5%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Peacham School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Springfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
— |
| 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.