Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Groton vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Groton has the most homeowners (94.4%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k 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.
| Measure | Brattleboro | Groton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,122Highest |
967Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5Lowest 6% above VT |
45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
| Plainfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Brattleboro and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Brattleboro and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Groton and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
$77,250±$14kHighest 5% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Groton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
$243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$58 13% below VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Plainfield and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,700Highest 13% above VT |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 19% below VT |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Brattleboro 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 | #33 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | — |
| High school in town | Brattleboro Union High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.