What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derby Line has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).

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.

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

Measure	Derby Line	Plainfield
People
Population	783Lowest	1,314Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	46.7±13.3Lowest 8% above VT	48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT
	Plainfield and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.6%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9%	16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Derby Line and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.9%±6.6Highest VT: 21.4%	21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Derby Line and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%	48.2%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.3Highest VT: 7%	2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%
	Derby Line and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,518±$25kHighest 12% below VT	$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT
	Derby Line and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,000±$52kLowest 37% below VT	$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$835±$334Lowest 32% below VT	$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT
	Plainfield and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,275Lowest 35% below VT	$4,806Highest 5% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.4%±24.3Lowest VT: 48.4%	73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4%
	Plainfield and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%	11.6%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83%Highest VT: 73.2%	80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 20 yrs older than VT	1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 3% above VT	24 minLowest about the VT average
Work from home	13.5%±9.8Lowest VT: 16.9%	16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9%
	Plainfield and Derby Line 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

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.