Compare towns
Reading vs Franklin vs Sheldon 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($247k median).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Peacham has the highest household income ($90k).
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 | Franklin | Sheldon | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,590 |
2,267Highest |
887 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below 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%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Franklin 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% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
| Franklin 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±$19k 5% above VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT |
| 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 19% above VT |
$247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% 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 |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,028±$248 17% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$5,605 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest 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 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Peacham School District |
| High school in town | None 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.