Compare towns
Newark vs Plainfield vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
Groton has the highest household income ($77k).
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 | Newark | Plainfield | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 727Lowest |
1,314Highest |
967 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.4±6Lowest 4% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
| Plainfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Newark and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Groton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,929±$7k 10% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$77,250±$14kHighest 5% below VT |
| Groton and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,900±$23kLowest 27% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$243,000±$70k 23% below VT |
| Plainfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,771 25% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 44% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 min 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — | — |
| 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.


