Compare towns
Peacham vs Williston 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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Reading has the most homeowners (84.9%).
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 | Williston | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 887 |
10,144Highest |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% 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%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Peacham and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Peacham 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
| Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
| Williston 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 |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,605 11% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.1% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Peacham School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 History | 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.