Compare towns
Plainfield vs Barnard vs Berlin vs Peacham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Peacham has the most people working from home (24.2%).
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 | Plainfield | Barnard | Berlin | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
1,211 |
2,880Highest |
887Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
| Berlin and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Peacham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Peacham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$90,000±$28k 11% above VT |
| Barnard and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
$302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
| Barnard and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,028±$248Lowest 17% below VT |
| Barnard and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 5% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,605 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7 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 | 11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
29 min 21% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham and Barnard 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 | — | — | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Peacham School District |
| 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.