Compare towns
Groton vs Plainfield vs Ryegate vs Orange
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).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
Ryegate has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
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 | Ryegate | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 967 |
1,314Highest |
1,059 |
957Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
50.3±5.3Highest 17% 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% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7 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%±3 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ryegate and Plainfield 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% |
29.1% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Groton and Ryegate 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 |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% 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 |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
$222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
| 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 |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$908±$236 26% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above 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 |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest 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% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 29% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 18% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 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 | 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.