Compare towns
Reading vs Proctor vs Peacham 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 the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($206k median).
Peacham has the most renters (23.9% rent).
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 | Proctor | Peacham | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,586Highest |
887 |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
47.3±8.9Lowest 10% above VT |
50.1±5.7 16% 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% |
17.2%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6Highest 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% |
23.5%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest 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% |
28%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.9%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Peacham and Proctor 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 |
$75,060±$12k 8% below VT |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
| Peacham and Reading 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 |
$206,000±$20kLowest 35% below VT |
$302,000±$64k 5% 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 |
$1,059±$200 14% below VT |
$1,028±$248Lowest 17% 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 |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,605 11% above VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
39.4%±15.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7Highest 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% VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
22 minLowest 5% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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.