Compare towns

Plainfield vs Windham vs Reading 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).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
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.

MeasurePlainfieldWindhamReadingPeacham
People
Population
1,314Highest
594Lowest
699
887
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
—
+3.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-2.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.1±5.5
12% above VT
44.2±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
51.1±7.6Highest
19% above VT
50.1±5.7
16% above VT
Reading 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%
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
18.5%±4.2
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%
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
33.6%±2.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
Peacham and Reading 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%
48.1%
VT: 43.8%
46%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5
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±$31kLowest
15% below VT
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
$85,000±$19k
5% above VT
$90,000±$28k
11% above VT
Windham 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
$353,900±$20k
12% above VT
$377,200±$72kHighest
19% above VT
$302,000±$64kLowest
5% below VT
Reading and Windham 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
$1,028±$248Lowest
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
$4,806Lowest
5% below VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
$5,754
14% above VT
$5,605
11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94Lowest
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7
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%
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
8.4%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
10.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
76.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1969
7 yrs older than VT
1976
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
about the VT average
27 min
14% above VT
33 minHighest
41% above VT
31 min
31% above VT
Work from home
16.4%±4.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6
VT: 16.9%
24.2%±16.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
Peacham and Reading 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 Peacham School District
High school in town — — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.