What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barton has the most kids (24.1% under 18).

Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barton	Plainfield
People
Population	730Lowest	1,016Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40±5.5Highest about the U.S. average	34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S.
	Barton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%	15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Barton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	28.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S.	$70,673±$6kHighest 12% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S.	$155,100±$17kHighest 53% below U.S.
	Plainfield and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$761±$150Highest 46% below U.S.	$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S.
	Barton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,185Highest about the U.S. average	$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.6%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Barton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	16.5%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Barton 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	#38 of 70 in VT	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.