Compare towns
Montgomery vs Plainfield vs Lowell vs Belvidere
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).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).
Belvidere has the highest household income ($82k).
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 | Plainfield | Lowell | Belvidere |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,047 |
1,314Highest |
1,070 |
422Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
40.7±6.5 6% below 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% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
22%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Belvidere 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% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$57,404±$15k 29% below VT |
$81,563±$18kHighest about the VT average |
| Belvidere 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 |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$239,200±$51k 24% below VT |
| 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 |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$945±$46 23% below VT |
$1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
| Belvidere and Plainfield 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 |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8 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% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 58% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
38 min 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6 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 | — | Lowell School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.