Compare towns
Reading vs Randolph vs Wheelock 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%).
Randolph has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
Peacham has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
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 | Randolph | Wheelock | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
4,843Highest |
717 |
887 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
51±5.6 18% above VT |
50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
| Reading and Wheelock 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% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Peacham and Wheelock 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% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Peacham and Wheelock 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% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
| Randolph 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 VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above 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 |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$302,000±$64k 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 |
$1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
— | $1,028±$248Lowest 17% below VT |
| Randolph 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 |
$4,698 7% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$5,605 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7Highest 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% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham and Reading 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 | — | #55 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | Peacham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4 |
— | — |
| 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.