Compare towns
Reading vs Danvers vs Peacham vs West Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Peacham has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
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 | Danvers | Peacham | West Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
28,098Highest |
887 |
1,171 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+22.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
45.3±3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
50.1±5.7 29% above U.S. |
54±5.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
| West Windsor and Reading 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% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±10 U.S.: 22% |
| Peacham and West Windsor 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% |
22.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Windsor and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$90,000±$28k 11% above U.S. |
$108,750±$18k 35% above U.S. |
| Danvers and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$302,000±$64kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$393,500±$41k 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,028±$248Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,100±$217 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$5,605Lowest 80% above U.S. |
$5,860 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.2%±16.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #91 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Peacham School District | Mount Ascutney School District #86 |
| 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.