Compare towns
Peacham vs Ripton vs Mendon 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 kids (20.7% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
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 | Ripton | Mendon | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 887 |
508Lowest |
1,113 |
1,314Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% 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 | 20.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 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+ | 33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Peacham and Ripton 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,000±$28k 11% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Ripton and Mendon 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Mendon 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 |
— | $1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,153±$103 7% 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 | $5,605Highest 11% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 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 | 10.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | — |
| High school 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.