What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cambridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).

Plainfield has the most people working from home (18.1%).

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	Cambridge	Plainfield
People
Population	3,767Highest	2,522Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.4±1.8Lowest 4% below U.S.	38.9±6.5Highest about the U.S. average
	Plainfield and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plainfield and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,344±$19kLowest 10% below U.S.	$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$343,000±$38kLowest 3% above U.S.	$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,183±$66Lowest 16% below U.S.	$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,910Lowest 57% above U.S.	$7,904Highest 153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.6%±7.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	6.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 23% above U.S.	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	9.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainfield and Cambridge 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	#25 of 70 in VT	#19 of 120 in NH
School district	Cambridge School District	Plainfield School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.