Compare towns
Groton vs Hardwick vs Plainfield
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 homeowners (94.4%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
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 | Hardwick | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 967Lowest |
2,965Highest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8Lowest 6% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
| Plainfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Hardwick 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% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Plainfield 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% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Groton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Hardwick and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$70k 23% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Groton 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 |
$875±$406 29% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Plainfield and Hardwick 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 |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Hardwick 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% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1962 14 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 29% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Groton 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 | — | #68 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | — |
| High school in town | — | Hazen Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.