Compare towns
Plainfield vs Reading vs Dover 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 youngest population (median age 48.1).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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.
| Measure | Plainfield | Reading | Dover | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
699Lowest |
1,466Highest |
887 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
| Dover and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Peacham and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Peacham and Dover 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% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Peacham and Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT |
| Peacham and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$302,000±$64kLowest 5% below VT |
| Reading and Dover 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,028±$248 17% below VT |
| Plainfield and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,605 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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.