Compare towns

Peacham vs Plainfield vs Underhill vs Reading

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peacham has the most people working from home (24.2%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
Reading has the most homeowners (84.9%).

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.

MeasurePeachamPlainfieldUnderhillReading
People
Population
887
1,314
3,141Highest
699Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
+3.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+3.2%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.1±5.7
16% above VT
48.1±5.5
12% above VT
38.1±11.4Lowest
12% below VT
51.1±7.6Highest
19% above VT
Reading and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.7%±6
VT: 17.9%
16.3%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
27.8%±10.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.5%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
Underhill and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
33.6%±2.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.1%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
17.6%±6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
Peacham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.9%
VT: 43.8%
48.2%
VT: 43.8%
50.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
46%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±4Highest
VT: 7%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
3.5%±2
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5
VT: 7%
Peacham and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$90,000±$28k
11% above VT
$69,250±$31kLowest
15% below VT
$92,267±$54kHighest
14% above VT
$85,000±$19k
5% above VT
Underhill and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$302,000±$64kLowest
5% below VT
$318,400±$34k
about the VT average
$446,000±$24kHighest
41% above VT
$377,200±$72k
19% above VT
Underhill and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,028±$248Lowest
17% below VT
$1,153±$103Highest
7% below VT
—
$1,100±$331
11% below VT
Plainfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,605
11% above VT
$4,806Lowest
5% below VT
$6,697Highest
33% above VT
$5,754
14% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.7%±17.7
VT: 48.4%
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±18.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7
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
10.6%
VT: 10.1%
11.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6.4%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.4%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
76.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
79.8%
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
same as VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1979Highest
3 yrs newer than VT
1969
7 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
31% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
33 min
39% above VT
33 minHighest
41% above VT
Work from home
24.2%±16.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.4%±4.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
19.4%±11.3
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6
VT: 16.9%
Peacham and Reading 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 — — #2 of 70 in VT —
School district Peacham School District — Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
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.