Compare towns
Peacham vs Reading vs Strafford
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).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 887 |
699Lowest |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.7Lowest 16% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Reading 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest 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+ | 48.9% VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Peacham and Strafford 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 |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
| Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,605Lowest 11% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.