Compare towns
Peacham vs Springfield vs Barnet 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 highest household income ($90k).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Barnet has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
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 | Springfield | Barnet | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 887 |
9,084Highest |
1,855 |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±5.3 11% 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%±6 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet 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% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Peacham and Barnet 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% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.6% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 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 |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$67,386±$15k 17% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$247,900±$24k 22% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above 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 |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$974±$72 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 |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$4,489Lowest 11% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9 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% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.1% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham and Reading 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 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| 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.