Compare towns
Chester vs Montgomery vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
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 | Chester | Montgomery | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
1,047Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT |
| Montgomery and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$69,250±$31kHighest 15% below VT |
| Plainfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$323,200±$45kHighest about the VT average |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,326 14% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Montgomery 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — |
| 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.