Compare towns

Plainfield vs Worcester 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).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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.

MeasurePlainfieldWorcesterDummerstonPeacham
People
Population
1,314
831Lowest
2,090Highest
887
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-2.3%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.1±5.5
12% above VT
47±2.7
9% above VT
45.6±11.7Lowest
6% 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%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
20.7%±6
VT: 17.9%
Dummerston 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%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
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%
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%
6.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
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±$31kLowest
15% below VT
$73,833±$18k
9% below VT
$101,696±$21kHighest
25% above VT
$90,000±$28k
11% above VT
Dummerston 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
$271,100±$27kLowest
14% below VT
$335,300±$22kHighest
6% above VT
$302,000±$64k
5% below VT
Dummerston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,153±$103
7% below VT
$1,023±$136Lowest
17% below VT
$1,392±$126Highest
13% above VT
$1,028±$248
17% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,806
5% below VT
$4,421Lowest
12% below VT
$4,536
10% below VT
$5,605Highest
11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
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%
5.9%
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
10.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
85.9%
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
1976Highest
same as VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1976Highest
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
29 min
22% above VT
21 minLowest
11% below VT
31 minHighest
31% above VT
Work from home
16.4%±4.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.6%±4.8
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 — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 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 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.