Compare towns

Reading vs Ripton vs Weston vs Peacham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Weston has the most expensive homes ($538k median).
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.

MeasureReadingRiptonWestonPeacham
People
Population
699
508Lowest
685
887Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+10.1%
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
60.5±7Highest
40% above VT
50.1±5.7
16% above VT
Weston 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%
15.2%±4.2
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%
44.2%±2.8Highest
VT: 21.4%
33.6%±2.6
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48%
VT: 43.8%
66.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±2.5
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
1.2%±1.9Lowest
VT: 7%
5.4%±4
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$85,000±$19kLowest
5% above VT
$112,917±$15k
39% above VT
$115,000±$20kHighest
42% above VT
$90,000±$28k
11% above VT
Weston and Ripton 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±$61k
25% above VT
$537,700±$77kHighest
70% above VT
$302,000±$64kLowest
5% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,100±$331
11% below VT
—
$1,375±$729Highest
11% above VT
$1,028±$248Lowest
17% below VT
Weston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,754
14% above VT
$4,915Lowest
about the VT average
$7,076Highest
40% above VT
$5,605
11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±31.7
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
33.3%±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%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
4.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
10.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%
VT: 73.2%
91.4%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
1969Lowest
7 yrs older than VT
1976Highest
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
41% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
24 minLowest
about the VT average
31 min
31% above VT
Work from home
22.9%±10.6
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
31.2%±7.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
24.2%±16.9
VT: 16.9%
Weston 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 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 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.