Compare towns
Peacham vs Reading vs Plainfield vs Montgomery
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 kids (20.7% under 18).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Reading | Plainfield | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 887 |
699Lowest |
1,314Highest |
1,047 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
| Montgomery and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Peacham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest 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+ | 48.9% VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Peacham and Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
| Peacham and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
| Reading and Montgomery 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$868±$209Lowest 30% 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,326Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest 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 | 10.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Peacham School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.