Compare towns
Athens vs Hartland vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Hartland has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Athens | Hartland | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
3,460Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
55.8±5.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hartland and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartland and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Athens and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$86,136±$23k 7% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$348,600±$39k 5% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Lowest 20% below U.S. |
— | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438Lowest 74% above U.S. |
$6,437 106% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.1%±89.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athens and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athens and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #29 of 70 in VT | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Hartland School District | Plainfield 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 |
U.S. 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.