Compare towns
Lowell vs Plainfield vs Richford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
Richford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
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 | Lowell | Plainfield | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,070Lowest |
1,314 |
2,467Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
39±3.6 10% below VT |
| Plainfield and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.4%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Richford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.4%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Richford and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,404±$15k 29% below VT |
$69,250±$31kHighest 15% below VT |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT |
| Plainfield and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,400±$33k 42% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,160±$66Highest 6% below VT |
| Richford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,300 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
55.1%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
70.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lowell School District | — | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Richford Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.1 |
| 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.