Compare towns
Montgomery vs Swanton 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 oldest population (median age 51.5).
Swanton has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Montgomery | Swanton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,047Lowest |
2,670Highest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% VT: +2.8% |
-2.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
48.1±5.5 12% 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%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton 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% |
19.3%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Montgomery and Swanton 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 |
$66,607±$27k 18% below VT |
$69,250±$31kHighest 15% below VT |
| Plainfield and Swanton 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 |
$229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| 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 |
$1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Swanton 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 |
$4,370 13% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 58% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.