Compare towns
Groton vs Plainfield vs Townshend
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).
Plainfield has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 967Lowest |
1,314 |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8Lowest 6% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest 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% |
21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest 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% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest 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±$14k 5% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$78,750±$29kHighest 3% below VT |
| Townshend and Groton 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 |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Plainfield and Townshend 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 |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Plainfield and Townshend 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 |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Townshend 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 29% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
| 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.