Compare towns
Castleton vs Peacham vs Plainfield vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Peacham has the most people working from home (24.2%).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Castleton | Peacham | Plainfield | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
887 |
1,314 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
50.1±5.7Highest 16% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% 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 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Peacham and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 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+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$90,000±$28k 11% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% 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 | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,028±$248Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
— |
| Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,605Highest 11% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham and Ripton 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Peacham School District | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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 |
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.