Compare towns
Reading vs Middlesex vs Castleton 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%).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Castleton | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,943 |
4,453Highest |
887 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below 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 |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,028±$248Lowest 17% below VT |
| Middlesex and Castleton 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,605 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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.