What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).

Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).

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	Plainfield	Barre
People
Population	1,314Lowest	8,412Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8%	-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT	42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average
	Plainfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9%	13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Plainfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4%	19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Plainfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.2%Highest VT: 43.8%	36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%	3.4%±1.9Highest VT: 7%
	Barre and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,250±$31kHighest 15% below VT	$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT
	Plainfield and Barre 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	$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT	$1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT
	Plainfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,806Lowest 5% below VT	$5,192Highest 3% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4%	34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Plainfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.6%Lowest VT: 10.1%	17.3%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Highest 21 yrs older than VT	1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest about the VT average	19 minLowest 21% below VT
Work from home	16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9%	10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Plainfield and Barre 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	—	#19 of 70 in VT
School district	—	Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center
High school in town	—	Spaulding Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.7
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.