Compare towns
Montgomery vs Benson vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montgomery has the most expensive homes ($323k median).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
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 | Montgomery | Benson | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,047 |
784Lowest |
1,314Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT |
| Benson and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Benson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Benson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,200±$45kHighest about the VT average |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Plainfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,326 14% below VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 58% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.