Compare towns
Reading vs Unity vs Peacham vs Wardsboro
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 renters (23.9% rent).
Wardsboro has the shortest commute (27 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 | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,375Highest |
887 |
820 |
| 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% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
50.1±5.7Lowest 29% above U.S. |
51.6±7.3 33% above U.S. |
| Unity and Wardsboro 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% |
18.8%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Peacham and Wardsboro 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% |
27.4%±3.1Lowest 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% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above U.S. |
$62,000±$6kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Peacham and Unity 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. |
$299,300±$47k 10% 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±$248Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,479±$224 5% above U.S. |
| Unity and Wardsboro 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. |
$4,345Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±58 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% |
7.7% 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% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 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. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
13.3%±5.1 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | None yet | None yet |
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.