Compare towns
Reading vs Newfields vs Peacham vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Peacham has the most renters (23.9% rent).
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 | Newfields | Peacham | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
2,023Highest |
887 |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
50.1±5.7 29% above U.S. |
51.6±7.3Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Wardsboro and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Peacham and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±3.1 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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 U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$90,000±$28k 11% above U.S. |
$62,000±$6kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$302,000±$64k 9% below U.S. |
$299,300±$47kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,028±$248Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,479±$224 5% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,605 80% above U.S. |
$4,345Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±58 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.2%±16.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | Newfields School District | Peacham School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.