Compare towns
Brandon 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
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Peacham has the most people working from home (24.2%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
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 | Brandon | Peacham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
887Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
50.1±5.7Highest 16% above VT |
48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Peacham and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Peacham and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12kLowest 21% 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 | $227,800±$23kLowest 28% 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 | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$1,028±$248Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Plainfield and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
$5,605Highest 11% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1Lowest 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 | 14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #69 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Peacham School District | — |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — |
| 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.