Compare towns
Athens vs Peacham vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Peacham has the highest household income ($90k).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 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 | Athens | Peacham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
887 |
1,314Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5Lowest 10% above VT |
50.1±5.7Highest 16% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Peacham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Peacham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Peacham and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Peacham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,028±$248Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Plainfield and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438 8% above VT |
$5,605Highest 11% above VT |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Peacham School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.