Compare towns

Plainfield vs Dummerston vs Fair Haven vs Peacham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
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.

MeasurePlainfieldDummerstonFair HavenPeacham
People
Population
1,314
2,090
2,724Highest
887Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-2.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.1±5.5
12% above VT
45.6±11.7
6% above VT
39.2±7.6Lowest
9% below 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%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
19.4%±5.1
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%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3
VT: 21.4%
18.4%±4.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
33.6%±2.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.2%
VT: 43.8%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
23.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
4.1%±2.9
VT: 7%
5.4%±4Highest
VT: 7%
Peacham and Fair Haven 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
$101,696±$21kHighest
25% above VT
$62,404±$16kLowest
23% below 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
$335,300±$22kHighest
6% above VT
$176,500±$14kLowest
44% below 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
$1,392±$126Highest
13% above VT
$830±$116Lowest
33% below VT
$1,028±$248
17% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,806
5% below VT
$4,536
10% below VT
$3,865Lowest
23% below VT
$5,605Highest
11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
50.9%±20.9
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%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
18.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
10.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.6%
VT: 73.2%
76.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955
21 yrs older than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1976Highest
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
21 minLowest
11% below VT
31 minHighest
31% above VT
31 min
31% above VT
Work from home
16.4%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
4.3%±2.5Lowest
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 — — #66 of 70 in VT —
School district — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Peacham School District
High school in town — None in town Fair Haven Union Middle and High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.8
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet 12 photos → 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.