Compare towns
Reading vs Hardwick vs Andover 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 homeowners (84.9%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Hardwick | Andover | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
2,965Highest |
616Lowest |
887 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
47.1±7.4Lowest 9% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above 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%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest 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% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| 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±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$90,000±$28k 11% above VT |
| Andover and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
$302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
| Andover and Reading 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 |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
$1,028±$248 17% below VT |
| Andover 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 |
$4,351Lowest 14% below VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
$5,605 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Peacham 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% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4% VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Peacham 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 | — | #68 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | — | Peacham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— | — |
| 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.