Compare towns
Peacham vs Webster vs Reading vs Barnet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peacham has the most people working from home (24.2%).
Webster has the highest household income ($107k).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
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 | Webster | Reading | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 887 |
2,227Highest |
699Lowest |
1,855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.7 29% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
47.7±5.3 23% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$28k 11% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Webster 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±$64k 9% below U.S. |
$338,500±$30k about the U.S. average |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$247,900±$24kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Reading and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,028±$248 27% below U.S. |
$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Webster and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,605 80% above U.S. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$4,489Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.2%±16.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Merrimack Valley School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.