Compare towns
Plainfield vs Strafford vs Peacham vs Worcester
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).
Peacham has the most renters (23.9% rent).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
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 | Peacham | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
1,372Highest |
887 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% 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%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest 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±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$90,000±$28k 11% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,028±$248 17% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Plainfield and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,605 11% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 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 | — | Strafford School District | Peacham School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.