Compare towns
Reading vs Orange vs Peacham vs Andover
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 population (median age 51.1).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Peacham has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Orange | Peacham | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
957Highest |
887 |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-2.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
49.2±5.1Lowest 14% above VT |
| Reading and Orange 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% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest 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% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 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% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 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±$19k 5% above VT |
$71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$90,000±$28k 11% above VT |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
| Andover 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±$72k 19% above VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above 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 |
$1,330±$153 8% above VT |
$1,028±$248Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
| Andover and Orange 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 |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$5,605 11% above VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest 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% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | 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.