Compare towns
Peacham vs Putney vs Castleton vs Plainfield
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%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
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 | Peacham | Putney | Castleton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 887Lowest |
2,622 |
4,453Highest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.7Highest 16% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
48.1±5.5 12% 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 | 20.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 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+ | 33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Peacham and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% 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 | $1,028±$248 17% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% 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 | $5,605Highest 11% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest 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 | 10.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.1% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Peacham School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| 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.