Compare towns
Groton vs Lowell 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 highest household income ($77k).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (16.4%).
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 | Lowell | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 967Lowest |
1,070 |
1,314Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above 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% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield and Groton 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% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Groton and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,250±$14kHighest 5% below VT |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Groton and Plainfield 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 |
$183,400±$33kLowest 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 |
$945±$46 23% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,659 27% below VT |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Lowell 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% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 29% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7 VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | — | Lowell School District | — |
| High school 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.