Compare towns
Groton vs Plainfield vs Ripton vs Springfield
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%).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Plainfield | Ripton | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 967 |
1,314 |
508Lowest |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Ripton 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% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield 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% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Springfield 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% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$70k 23% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Ripton 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 |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
— | $963±$100 22% below VT |
| Plainfield and Springfield 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 |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,807 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Ripton 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% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 29% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Plainfield 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 | — | — | — | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 14.3 |
| 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.