Compare towns
Groton vs Marlboro 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 affordable homes ($243k median).
Marlboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+59.7%).
Plainfield has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Marlboro | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 967Lowest |
1,362Highest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+59.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
22.7±2.1Lowest 47% 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%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
12%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
18.8%±3.7Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7 VT: 7% |
42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,250±$14kHighest 5% below VT |
$77,135±$10k 5% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Groton and Marlboro 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 |
$357,300±$55kHighest 13% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Marlboro and Plainfield 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 |
$1,600±$824Highest 30% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Marlboro and Plainfield 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 |
$5,640Highest 12% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.1%±43.6 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Marlboro 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% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 29% above VT |
17 minLowest 26% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26%±11.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Marlboro and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Marlboro School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.