Compare towns
Reading vs Calais vs Plainfield vs Peacham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Reading | Calais | Plainfield | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,713Highest |
1,314 |
887 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-2.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
48.1±5.5 12% 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 | 18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest 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+ | 46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$90,000±$28k 11% above VT |
| Calais and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$302,000±$64kLowest 5% below VT |
| Calais and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,028±$248Lowest 17% below VT |
| Calais and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 14% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,605 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest 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 | 8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham and Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | 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.