Compare towns
Reading vs Waterville vs Whitingham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Whitingham has the youngest population (median age 46.4).
Peacham has the shortest commute (31 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 | Waterville | Whitingham | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
680Lowest |
1,368Highest |
887 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
46.4±7.1Lowest 8% above VT |
50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
| Reading and Peacham 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% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Peacham and Waterville 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% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Peacham and Whitingham 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% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Peacham and Waterville 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 |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT |
| Peacham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
| 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 11% below VT |
$1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,028±$248 17% below VT |
| Waterville 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 |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
$5,605 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 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% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
38 min 60% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
31 minLowest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Peacham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
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| 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.