Compare towns
Groton vs Plainfield vs Waterford
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Waterford has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Waterford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 967Lowest |
1,314Highest |
1,279 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
45.4±5.3Lowest 5% above VT |
| Plainfield and Groton 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% |
16.7%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterford 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% |
21.4%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Waterford 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2%±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±$14k 5% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$109,375±$19kHighest 35% above VT |
| Waterford 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 |
$271,500±$22k 14% below VT |
| Plainfield and Waterford 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 |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$4,238 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9Lowest 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% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
99%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 29% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.3%±7.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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.