Compare towns
Groton vs Highgate vs Plainfield vs Ryegate
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%).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Ryegate has the most kids (23.2% 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 | Groton | Highgate | Plainfield | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 967Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,314 |
1,059 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
| Plainfield and Groton 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%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate 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% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Ryegate 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% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Groton and Highgate 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 |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
| Highgate 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 |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
| Plainfield and Highgate 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 |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$908±$236 26% below VT |
| Plainfield and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,659 27% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Ryegate 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 29% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.