What stands out worked out from the figures below

East Montpelier has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).

Plainfield has the most affordable 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	East Montpelier	Plainfield
People
Population	2,612Highest	1,314Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Highest VT: +2.8%	-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	46.7±4Lowest 8% above VT	48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT
	Plainfield and East Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9%	16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9%
	East Montpelier and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4%	21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4%
	East Montpelier and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.6%Highest VT: 43.8%	48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±2Highest VT: 7%	2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%
	East Montpelier and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,778±$21kHighest 14% above VT	$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT
	East Montpelier and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$378,700±$32kHighest 20% above VT	$318,400±$34kLowest about the VT average
	East Montpelier and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,187±$131Highest 4% below VT	$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT
	East Montpelier and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,868Highest 16% above VT	$4,806Lowest 5% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.3%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4%	73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4%
	Plainfield and East Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%	11.6%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.2%Highest VT: 73.2%	80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT	1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 17% below VT	24 minHighest about the VT average
Work from home	21.2%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9%	16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9%
	East Montpelier 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	#15 of 70 in VT	—
School district	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92	—
High school in town	U-32 Middle & High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.