What stands out worked out from the figures below

Kirby has the most kids (30% under 18).

Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Kirby	Plainfield
People
Population	756Lowest	1,314Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-0.6% VT: +2.8%
Median age	38.8±7.1Lowest 10% below VT	48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT
	Plainfield and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	30%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9%	16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	19.2%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4%	21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4%
	Plainfield and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.4%Lowest VT: 43.8%	48.2%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±3.1Highest VT: 7%	2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%
	Kirby and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$54,792±$21kLowest 33% below VT	$69,250±$31kHighest 15% below VT
	Plainfield and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$302,900±$63kLowest 4% below VT	$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average
	Plainfield and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,250±$326Highest about the VT average	$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT
	Kirby and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,597Lowest 9% below VT	$4,806Highest 5% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%	73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4%
	Plainfield and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	21.3%Highest VT: 10.1%	11.6%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.5%Highest VT: 73.2%	80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT	1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 43% above VT	24 minLowest about the VT average
Work from home	20.6%±9.3Highest VT: 16.9%	16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Kirby and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.