Compare towns
Reading vs Wright vs West Fairlee vs Peacham
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%).
Wright has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
West Fairlee has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Peacham has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
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 | Wright | West Fairlee | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,739Highest |
711 |
887 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
50.3±7.6 29% above U.S. |
50.1±5.7Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Wright 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% |
16.7%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±6Highest 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% |
21.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peacham and West Fairlee 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% |
24.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4Highest 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. |
$86,250±$13k 7% above U.S. |
$76,500±$16kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Peacham and Wright 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. |
$242,000±$36k 27% below U.S. |
$237,200±$35kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$302,000±$64k 9% 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. |
$953±$79Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,113±$171Highest 21% below U.S. |
$1,028±$248 27% below U.S. |
| West Fairlee 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. |
$5,279 69% above U.S. |
$5,210Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$5,605 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.6%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±89.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±17.7Highest 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% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.2%±16.9Highest 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 | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | 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 |
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.