Compare towns

Plainfield vs Brookfield vs Groton 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%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Peacham has the most kids (20.7% under 18).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldBrookfieldGrotonPeacham
People
Population
1,314
1,486Highest
967
887Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-2.3%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.1±5.5
12% above VT
47±5.9
9% above VT
45.7±5.8Lowest
6% above VT
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%
18.8%±4.1
VT: 17.9%
13.3%±2.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
20.7%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
Peacham and Brookfield 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%
29.7%±6.4
VT: 21.4%
20.5%±3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
33.6%±2.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
Peacham and Brookfield 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%
45.3%
VT: 43.8%
38.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
3.2%±2.4
VT: 7%
7.5%±5.7Highest
VT: 7%
5.4%±4
VT: 7%
Groton 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±$31kLowest
15% below VT
$98,500±$23kHighest
21% above VT
$77,250±$14k
5% below VT
$90,000±$28k
11% above VT
Brookfield 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
$339,300±$15kHighest
7% above VT
$243,000±$70kLowest
23% below VT
$302,000±$64k
5% below VT
Brookfield and Plainfield 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
$975±$306
21% below VT
$288±$151Lowest
77% below VT
$1,028±$248
17% 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
$4,806
5% below VT
$4,560
10% below VT
$3,659Lowest
27% below VT
$5,605Highest
11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
30.4%±27.8
VT: 48.4%
12.5%±72.9Lowest
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%
6.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
6.8%
VT: 10.1%
10.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
87.9%
VT: 73.2%
94.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
76.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1975
1 yr older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1976
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
about the VT average
37 minHighest
55% above VT
30 min
29% above VT
31 min
31% above VT
Work from home
16.4%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±10.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.3%±7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
24.2%±16.9
VT: 16.9%
Brookfield and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 — Peacham School District
High school 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.