Compare towns
Fair Haven 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
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Fair Haven | Montgomery | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,724Highest |
1,047Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fair Haven and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16k 23% below VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$69,250±$31kHighest 15% below VT |
| Plainfield and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$14kLowest 44% 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 | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$868±$209 30% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Plainfield and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
$4,326 14% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9Lowest 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 | 18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
15.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest 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 | #66 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.