Compare towns
Peacham vs Worcester vs Dover 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).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Worcester | Dover | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 887 |
831Lowest |
1,466Highest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Dover 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% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Peacham and Dover 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% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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±$28kHighest 11% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Peacham and Worcester 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 |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Dover and Plainfield 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 |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Plainfield and Peacham 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 |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 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% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1976 same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Peacham School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — |
| 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.