Compare towns
Brookline 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
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
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.
| Measure | Brookline | Groton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
967 |
1,314Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Lowest 5% 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 | 20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Groton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Brookline and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Highest about the VT average |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.