Compare towns
Reading vs Wardsboro vs Ripton 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).
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Peacham has the most renters (23.9% rent).
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 | Wardsboro | Ripton | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
820 |
508Lowest |
887Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% 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%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 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% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$90,000±$28k 11% above VT |
| Ripton 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 |
$299,300±$47kLowest 5% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$302,000±$64k 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 |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
— | $1,028±$248Lowest 17% below VT |
| Wardsboro 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 |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,605 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±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% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Peacham School District |
| High school in town | None 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.