Compare towns
Montgomery vs Castleton 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
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Peacham has the most people working from home (24.2%).
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 | Montgomery | Castleton | Plainfield | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,047 |
4,453Highest |
1,314 |
887Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
| Montgomery and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6Highest 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+ | 33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT |
| Peacham and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,200±$45kHighest about the VT average |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$1,028±$248 17% 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 | $4,326 14% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$5,605Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 58% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | 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 |
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.