Compare towns
Reading vs Colrain vs Peacham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
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 | Colrain | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,627Highest |
887 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
50.1±5.7 29% 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 | 18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Peacham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peacham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4Highest 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 | $85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Peacham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$302,000±$64k 9% below U.S. |
| 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 22% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,028±$248Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$5,605 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±17.7Highest 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 | 8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.2%±16.9Highest 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mohawk Trail | 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 |
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.