Compare towns
Reading vs Castleton vs Windham 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).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Peacham has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
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 | Castleton | Windham | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
4,453Highest |
594Lowest |
887 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Peacham and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$90,000±$28k 11% above VT |
| Windham and Peacham 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
| Reading and Windham 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 |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
— | $1,028±$248Lowest 17% below VT |
| Castleton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 14% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,605 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | 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.