Compare towns
Peacham vs Whiting vs Reading 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%).
Whiting has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
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 | Whiting | Reading | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 887 |
532Lowest |
699 |
1,314Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% 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% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Peacham 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 |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Whiting 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±$64k 5% below VT |
$280,400±$36kLowest 11% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Reading and Plainfield 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 |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Whiting and Plainfield 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 |
$4,227Lowest 16% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest 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% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.1% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | 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.