Compare towns
Groton vs Guildhall vs Plainfield vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Guildhall has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Plainfield has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k 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.
| Measure | Groton | Guildhall | Plainfield | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 967 |
371Lowest |
1,314Highest |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
42.6±7.8Lowest about the VT average |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Plainfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±7.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Guildhall and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±5.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1% VT: 43.8% |
33.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7 VT: 7% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
| Guildhall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT |
$321,200±$62k about the VT average |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
$850±$717 31% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
— |
| Plainfield and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
$4,625 8% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
75%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Guildhall and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 29% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest 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 | — | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | — | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.