Compare towns
Northfield vs Plainfield vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
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 | Northfield | Plainfield | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
1,314Lowest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| Plainfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
| Dummerston and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21kLowest 13% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
| Dummerston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1971Highest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Plainfield 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
— | — |
| 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.