Compare towns

Montgomery vs Grafton 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 renters (19.3% rent).
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
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.

MeasureMontgomeryGraftonPlainfield
People
Population
1,047
666Lowest
1,314Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.4%
VT: +2.8%
-5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.5±11.3
19% above VT
59.2±4.4Highest
37% above VT
48.1±5.5Lowest
12% above VT
Grafton and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.5%±4.4
VT: 17.9%
5.9%±3.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
16.3%±4.7Highest
VT: 17.9%
Plainfield and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
33.9%±8.2
VT: 21.4%
34.2%±2Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.1%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Grafton and Montgomery 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%
48.4%
VT: 43.8%
48.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±3.2
VT: 7%
7.1%±5Highest
VT: 7%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
Grafton 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
$76,111±$7kHighest
6% below VT
$69,250±$31k
15% below VT
Grafton 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±$45k
about the VT average
$343,200±$85kHighest
8% above VT
$318,400±$34kLowest
about the VT average
Grafton and Montgomery 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
$1,288±$174Highest
4% above VT
$1,153±$103
7% below VT
Grafton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,326Lowest
14% below VT
$4,843Highest
4% below VT
$4,806
5% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
76.6%±68Highest
VT: 48.4%
53.8%±69.4Lowest
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%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
11.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
89.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1978
2 yrs newer than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
58% above VT
24 min
4% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
16%±5.9
VT: 16.9%
15.8%±5.4Lowest
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
School district Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Athens Grafton School District —
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.