Compare towns
Reading vs Belvidere vs Cavendish vs Peacham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Belvidere has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Peacham has the most renters (23.9% rent).
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 | Reading | Belvidere | Cavendish | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
422Lowest |
1,242Highest |
887 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
50.1±5.7 16% 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 | 18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
22%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Belvidere and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest 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+ | 46% VT: 43.8% |
35.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Peacham and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$81,563±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT |
| Peacham and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$239,200±$51kLowest 24% below VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
| Reading and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,028±$248 17% below VT |
| Belvidere and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$3,948 22% below VT |
$5,605 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 8.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | 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 | 18 photos → | 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.