Compare towns
Montgomery vs Plainfield vs Wilder
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).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,047Lowest |
1,314 |
3,087Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
45.5±8.9Lowest 6% 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%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest 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% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Wilder 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 |
$75,143±$9kHighest 7% below VT |
| Wilder 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 |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% 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 |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
| Plainfield and Wilder 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 |
$5,505Highest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest 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% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 58% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.