Compare towns

Peacham vs Springfield 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 most kids (20.7% under 18).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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.

MeasurePeachamSpringfieldReading
People
Population
887
9,084Highest
699Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.3%
VT: +2.8%
-3.3%Lowest
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
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%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.6%±3.4
VT: 17.9%
18.5%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Peacham and Springfield 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%
28.2%±3.3
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%
23.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±4Highest
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.4Lowest
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
$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
$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
$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
$4,807Lowest
5% 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%
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%
8.4%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
76.1%
VT: 73.2%
67.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
same as VT
1958Lowest
18 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
33 minHighest
41% above VT
Work from home
24.2%±16.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
15.1%±5.5Lowest
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 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town None in town Springfield High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.3
—
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.