Compare towns
Groton vs Mendon vs Plainfield vs Peacham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
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 | Groton | Mendon | Plainfield | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 967 |
1,113 |
1,314Highest |
887Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-2.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8Lowest 6% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
| Mendon and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6Highest 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+ | 20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
| Groton and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$90,000±$28k 11% above VT |
| Mendon and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
| Mendon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,028±$248 17% below VT |
| Mendon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$5,605Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 29% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham and Mendon 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 | 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.