Compare towns
Plainfield vs Barnet vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Barnet has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Barnet | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314Lowest |
1,855 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.6% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Plainfield and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.6% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$71,768±$13kHighest 12% below VT |
| Northfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$247,900±$24kLowest 22% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Plainfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Plainfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 5% below VT |
$4,489Lowest 11% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 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 | 11.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Barnet 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 | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| 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.