Compare towns
Reading vs Peacham vs Cavendish vs Wardsboro
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%).
Peacham has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Wardsboro has the most homeowners (90.4%).
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 | Peacham | Cavendish | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
887 |
1,242Highest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
| 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%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Peacham and Wardsboro 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% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 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% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Peacham and Cavendish 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 |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
| Peacham and Cavendish 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 |
$302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Reading and Peacham 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 |
$1,028±$248 17% below VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro 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 |
$5,605 11% above VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 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% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham and Reading 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 | Peacham School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | 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 Our Story | 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.