Compare towns

Groton vs Orange 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).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k 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.

MeasureGrotonOrangePlainfield
People
Population
967
957Lowest
1,314Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-2.2%
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.7±5.8Lowest
6% above VT
50.3±5.3Highest
17% above VT
48.1±5.5
12% above VT
Orange and Plainfield 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%
15.6%±4.7
VT: 17.9%
16.3%±4.7Highest
VT: 17.9%
Plainfield and Orange 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%
19.4%±4Lowest
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%
22.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±5.7Highest
VT: 7%
2.4%±1.9
VT: 7%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
Groton and Orange 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
$71,302±$13k
12% below VT
$69,250±$31kLowest
15% below VT
Groton and Orange 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
$222,000±$22kLowest
30% 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
$1,330±$153Highest
8% above VT
$1,153±$103
7% below VT
Orange and Plainfield 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
$3,545Lowest
30% below VT
$4,806Highest
5% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
12.5%±72.9
VT: 48.4%
0%±87Lowest
VT: 48.4%
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
Plainfield and Groton 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%
7.6%
VT: 10.1%
11.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
87.8%
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
29% above VT
28 min
19% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
12.3%±7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
13.5%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
16.4%±4.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
Plainfield and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 —
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.