Compare towns
Reading vs Ira vs Middlesex 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k median).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Peacham has the most renters (23.9% rent).
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 | Ira | Middlesex | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
381Lowest |
1,943Highest |
887 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
| Ira 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 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Peacham 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% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Peacham and Middlesex 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 |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$90,000±$28k 11% above VT |
| Middlesex 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 19% above VT |
$272,900±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
| Reading and Middlesex 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 |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,028±$248 17% below VT |
| Middlesex and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 14% above VT |
$4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,605 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Peacham 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 |
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.