Compare towns
Fairlee vs Groton vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Groton has the most homeowners (94.4%).
Plainfield has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
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 | Fairlee | Groton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066 |
967Lowest |
1,314Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
45.7±5.8Lowest 6% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Fairlee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Groton and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$77,250±$14kHighest 5% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Groton and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Plainfield and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.