Compare towns

Barnard vs Montgomery vs Plainfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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.

MeasureBarnardMontgomeryPlainfield
People
Population
1,211
1,047Lowest
1,314Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-1.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42.4±6Lowest
about the VT average
51.5±11.3Highest
19% above VT
48.1±5.5
12% above VT
Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
26.9%±5.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.5%±4.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
16.3%±4.7
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
22%±3.6
VT: 21.4%
33.9%±8.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.1%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
52.8%
VT: 43.8%
48.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.8
VT: 7%
2.8%±3.2Highest
VT: 7%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
Montgomery and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,581±$19kHighest
20% above VT
$53,289±$24kLowest
34% below VT
$69,250±$31k
15% below VT
Barnard and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$402,600±$71kHighest
27% above VT
$323,200±$45k
about the VT average
$318,400±$34kLowest
about the VT average
Barnard and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,372±$80Highest
11% above VT
$868±$209Lowest
30% below VT
$1,153±$103
7% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,038Highest
20% above VT
$4,326Lowest
14% below VT
$4,806
5% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27%±19.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
76.6%±68Highest
VT: 48.4%
73.2%±53.9
VT: 48.4%
Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
15.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
11.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
21% above VT
37 minHighest
58% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
19.3%±10.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
16%±5.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
16.4%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
Barnard and Plainfield 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 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.