Compare towns
Plainfield vs Chester vs Dummerston 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).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Peacham has the most renters (23.9% rent).
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 | Chester | Dummerston | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
2,992Highest |
2,090 |
887Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
50.1±5.7Highest 16% above VT |
| Peacham and Chester 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% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston 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% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Peacham and Chester 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% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Peacham and Chester 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 |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$90,000±$28k 11% above VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,028±$248 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 5% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,605Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 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% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
28 min 18% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Peacham 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Peacham School District |
| High school in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| 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.