Compare towns
Plainfield vs Calais vs Peacham vs Brookfield
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Peacham has the most renters (23.9% rent).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Calais | Peacham | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
1,713Highest |
887Lowest |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
50.1±5.7Highest 16% above VT |
47±5.9 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%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais 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% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4 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% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Calais 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 |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$90,000±$28k 11% above VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
| Calais and Brookfield 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 |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$302,000±$64kLowest 5% below VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,028±$248 17% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
| Calais and Plainfield 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 |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,605 11% above VT |
$4,560Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest 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% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 32% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Peacham School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| 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.