Compare towns
Plainfield vs Braintree vs Salisbury vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
Braintree has the most people working from home (19%).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Groton has the most homeowners (94.4%).
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 | Braintree | Salisbury | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314Highest |
1,026 |
1,200 |
967Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
50.6±6.5 17% above VT |
45.7±5.8Lowest 6% above VT |
| Braintree and Salisbury 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% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Salisbury 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% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9 VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Salisbury 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% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
38.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Groton 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±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$99,688±$21kHighest 23% above VT |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
| Salisbury and Braintree 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 |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
$243,000±$70k 23% below VT |
| Plainfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$840±$405 32% below VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Salisbury and Plainfield 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 |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$4,842Highest 4% below VT |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
26 min 11% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.