Compare towns

Montgomery vs Plainfield vs Vernon

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 most kids (16.3% under 18).
Vernon has the highest household income ($86k).

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.

MeasureMontgomeryPlainfieldVernon
People
Population
1,047Lowest
1,314
2,709Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.5±11.3Highest
19% above VT
48.1±5.5
12% above VT
42.6±5.4Lowest
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%±4.4
VT: 17.9%
16.3%±4.7Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.1%±3.6Lowest
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%±8.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.1%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
22.8%±2.1
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52.8%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48.2%
VT: 43.8%
26.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±3.2
VT: 7%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
3%±1.7Highest
VT: 7%
Vernon 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
$69,250±$31k
15% below VT
$85,682±$9kHighest
6% above VT
Vernon 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
$285,100±$25kLowest
10% 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
$1,023±$214
17% below VT
Plainfield and Vernon 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
$5,191Highest
3% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
76.6%±68Highest
VT: 48.4%
73.2%±53.9
VT: 48.4%
26.2%±3.7Lowest
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%
5.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
76.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
58% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
20 minLowest
14% below VT
Work from home
16%±5.9
VT: 16.9%
16.4%±4.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
6.4%±3.1Lowest
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 — — #30 of 70 in VT
School district Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 — Vernon 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.