Compare towns
Peacham vs Strafford 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 affordable homes ($302k median).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Strafford | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 887 |
1,372Highest |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.7Lowest 16% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
51.1±7.6 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest 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% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% 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 |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | Peacham School District | Strafford School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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.