Compare towns
Montgomery vs Plainfield vs Springfield
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,047Lowest |
1,314 |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield 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% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Springfield 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% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Montgomery and Springfield 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 |
$69,250±$31kHighest 15% below VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
| Plainfield and Springfield 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% 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±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
| Plainfield and Springfield 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 |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 58% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest 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 | — | — | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
| 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.