Compare towns
Reading vs Unity vs Peacham vs Cavendish
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Peacham has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Unity | Peacham | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,375Highest |
887 |
1,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
50.1±5.7 29% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Unity 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 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Peacham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Peacham and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
| Peacham and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$302,000±$64k 9% below U.S. |
$285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
| 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 22% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,028±$248 27% below U.S. |
$1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Unity and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$5,394 73% above U.S. |
$5,605 80% above U.S. |
$3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.2%±16.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Unity School District | Peacham School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 18 photos → |
U.S. 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.