Compare towns
Grafton vs Ripton vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Grafton | Ripton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666 |
508Lowest |
1,314Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Grafton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$318,400±$34kLowest about the VT average |
| Ripton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
— | $1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
| Grafton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,843 4% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 4% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Athens Grafton School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.