Compare towns
Reading vs Stratton vs Wardsboro 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).
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
Wardsboro has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Peacham has the most people working from home (24.2%).
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 | Stratton | Wardsboro | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
532Lowest |
820 |
887Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
50.1±5.7 16% 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%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Peacham 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest 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% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Peacham and Reading 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$90,000±$28k 11% above VT |
| Stratton and Peacham 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$299,300±$47kLowest 5% below VT |
$302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$1,028±$248Lowest 17% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Stratton 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$5,605 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 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 | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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.