Compare towns
Plainfield vs Brattleboro vs Peacham vs Worcester
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 most expensive homes ($318k median).
Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Peacham has the highest household income ($90k).
Worcester has the most homeowners (85.9%).
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 | Brattleboro | Peacham | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
12,122Highest |
887 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
45.6±4.5Lowest 6% above VT |
50.1±5.7Highest 16% above VT |
47±2.7 9% 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% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Peacham and Brattleboro 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% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest 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 | $69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% 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 | $318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
$302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% 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 |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
$1,028±$248 17% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Plainfield and Brattleboro 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 |
$5,700Highest 13% above VT |
$5,605 11% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.1% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham and Worcester 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 | — | #33 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Peacham School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.