Compare towns
Reading vs Cornish vs Ira 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 the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Cornish has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k 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 | Cornish | Ira | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
1,816Highest |
381Lowest |
887 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
54±8.3 39% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
50.1±5.7Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Ira and Cornish 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% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest 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%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peacham and Ira 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% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1%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% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Peacham and Ira 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. |
$91,821±$2kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$90,000±$28k 11% above U.S. |
| Cornish 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 13% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18kLowest 18% 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. |
$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,028±$248 27% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$4,146Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$5,605 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest 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 | Cornish School District | — | 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 |
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.