Compare towns

Barnard vs Plainfield vs Royalton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k median).

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.

MeasureBarnardPlainfieldRoyalton
People
Population
1,211Lowest
2,522
2,752Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.4±6
9% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.9±10.1Highest
13% above U.S.
Royalton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
26.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Barnard and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Royalton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
8%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Royalton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,581±$19kLowest
21% above U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$103,938±$24k
29% above U.S.
Plainfield and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$402,600±$71k
21% above U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$263,200±$73kLowest
21% below U.S.
Plainfield and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,372±$80
about the U.S. average
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,040±$391Lowest
26% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,038
94% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$4,675Lowest
50% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27%±19.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
36.7%±16.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Royalton 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
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
13%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
63.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
22 min
17% below U.S.
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±10.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±7.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Barnard 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 — #19 of 120 in NH #48 of 70 in VT
School district Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Plainfield School District White River Unified School District #79
High school in town None in town None in town White River Valley High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
8.7
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.