Compare towns
Groton vs Plainfield vs Topsham
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).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 967Lowest |
1,314Highest |
999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8Lowest 6% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT |
| Topsham 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% |
18%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Topsham 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% |
23.2%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Topsham 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% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Groton and Plainfield 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±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$72,308±$60k 11% below VT |
| Groton and Topsham 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 |
$222,900±$56kLowest 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±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$908±$398 26% below VT |
| Plainfield and Topsham 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 |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$4,006 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Plainfield 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% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 29% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| 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.