Compare towns
Pittsfield vs Middlesex vs Reading vs Peacham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pittsfield has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Peacham has the most affordable homes ($302k 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 | Pittsfield | Middlesex | Reading | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 391Lowest |
1,943Highest |
699 |
887 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.8±3.5Highest 25% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
| Pittsfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±8.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Peacham and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Peacham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,852±$12kLowest 19% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$90,000±$28k 11% above VT |
| Middlesex and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $313,300±$73k about the VT average |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$302,000±$64kLowest 5% below VT |
| Reading and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,035±$140 16% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,028±$248Lowest 17% below VT |
| Middlesex and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,181Lowest about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,605 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.6%±43 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7Highest 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 | 8.4% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 18% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.1%±24.1 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Peacham School District |
| 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 | 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.