Compare towns
Reading vs Ripton vs Mendon 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 the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Peacham has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
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 | Ripton | Mendon | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
508Lowest |
1,113Highest |
887 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
| Mendon 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6Highest 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%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Peacham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$90,000±$28k 11% above VT |
| Ripton and Mendon 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$302,000±$64kLowest 5% below VT |
| Ripton 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 |
— | $1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,028±$248Lowest 17% below VT |
| Mendon 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 |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$5,605 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 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 | ||||
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | 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.