Compare towns
Barnet vs Northfield vs Plainfield vs Monroe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (16.4%).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Barnet | Northfield | Plainfield | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855 |
5,920Highest |
1,314 |
786Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 23% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
51±10.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Monroe and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±7.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnet and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.3%±8.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Monroe and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$71,768±$13k 11% below U.S. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$88,150±$7kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Monroe and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$312,700±$58k 6% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,104±$218 22% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489 44% above U.S. |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±39Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Barnet 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.