Compare towns
Montgomery vs Fair Haven 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 oldest population (median age 51.5).
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
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.
| Measure | Montgomery | Fair Haven | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,047Lowest |
2,724Highest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Montgomery and Plainfield 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% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven 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% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fair Haven 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 |
$62,404±$16k 23% below VT |
$69,250±$31kHighest 15% below VT |
| Plainfield and Fair Haven 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 |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% 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±$209 30% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Plainfield and Montgomery 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 |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 58% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #66 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.