Compare towns
Plainfield vs Chester vs Jasper
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($233k median).
Jasper has the most kids (33.6% 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.
| Measure | Plainfield | Chester | Jasper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,016Lowest |
2,992Highest |
1,308 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
37.3±7.4 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
33.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$80,588±$7kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Jasper and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $155,100±$17k 53% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$123,600±$13kLowest 63% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $750±$207 47% below U.S. |
$960±$44Highest 32% below U.S. |
$658±$149Lowest 53% below U.S. |
| Chester and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,667 14% below U.S. |
$4,262Highest 37% above U.S. |
$2,250Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.6%±43.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
35.7%±54.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Jasper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester and Jasper 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| High school in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.