Compare towns

Montgomery vs Franklin 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).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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.

MeasureMontgomeryFranklinPlainfield
People
Population
1,047Lowest
1,590Highest
1,314
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.4%
VT: +2.8%
-3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.5±11.3Highest
19% above VT
38.8±6.9Lowest
10% 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%
23.5%±5.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.3%±4.7
VT: 17.9%
Franklin 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%
15.3%±1.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21.1%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52.8%Highest
VT: 43.8%
21.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.2%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±3.2
VT: 7%
7.5%±3.1Highest
VT: 7%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
Franklin 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
$79,917±$21kHighest
about the VT average
$69,250±$31k
15% below VT
Franklin 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
$247,400±$66kLowest
22% 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
$891±$266
28% below VT
$1,153±$103Highest
7% below VT
Plainfield and Franklin 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
$3,384Lowest
33% below VT
$4,806Highest
5% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
76.6%±68Highest
VT: 48.4%
45.5%±42.2Lowest
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%
8.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
11.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%
VT: 73.2%
74.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
58% above VT
25 min
8% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
16%±5.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
18.1%±4.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.4%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
Franklin 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 Missisquoi Valley School District #89 —
High school in town None 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.