Compare towns
Plainfield vs Barre 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
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 | Barre | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
8,412Highest |
887Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
50.1±5.7Highest 16% above VT |
| Peacham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6Highest 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+ | 21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Peacham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT |
| Peacham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
| Plainfield and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$1,028±$248Lowest 17% below VT |
| Plainfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
$5,605Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham and Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Peacham School District |
| High school in town | — | Spaulding Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.