Compare towns
Plainfield vs Strafford 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).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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 | Strafford | Dummerston | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
1,372 |
2,090Highest |
887Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
| Strafford and Peacham 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Dummerston 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% 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%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Peacham and Strafford 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$90,000±$28k 11% above VT |
| Strafford and Dummerston 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$302,000±$64kLowest 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,028±$248Lowest 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 5% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,605 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% 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 |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
23 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | ||||
| School district | — | Strafford School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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.