Compare towns
Plainfield vs Lowell vs Worcester 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Peacham has the highest household income ($90k).
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 | Lowell | Worcester | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314Highest |
1,070 |
831Lowest |
887 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
47±2.7 9% 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% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell 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% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% VT: 43.8% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.4%±4 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 |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above 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 |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$302,000±$64k 5% 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 |
$945±$46Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% 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 |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$5,605Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Lowell School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Peacham School District |
| 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.