What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

Plainfield has the most kids (16.3% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	North Bennington	Plainfield
People
Population	1,336Highest	1,314Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest VT: +2.8%	-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	43.9±10Lowest about the VT average	48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT
	Plainfield and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	10.4%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9%	16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9%
	Plainfield and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.9%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4%	21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4%
	North Bennington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.4%Lowest VT: 43.8%	48.2%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	21.6%±6.5Highest VT: 7%	2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,571±$10kLowest 16% below VT	$69,250±$31kHighest 15% below VT
	Plainfield and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$313,000±$40kLowest about the VT average	$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average
	Plainfield and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,447±$278Highest 17% above VT	$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT
	North Bennington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,590Highest 11% above VT	$4,806Lowest 5% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.7%±26.9Lowest VT: 48.4%	73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4%
	Plainfield and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1%	11.6%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%	80.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Highest 19 yrs older than VT	1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 24% below VT	24 minHighest about the VT average
Work from home	17.3%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9%	16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9%
	North Bennington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.