Compare towns
Plainfield vs Braintree vs Salisbury vs Montgomery
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 youngest population (median age 48.1).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Montgomery has the most expensive homes ($323k median).
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 | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314Highest |
1,026Lowest |
1,200 |
1,047 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
50.6±6.5 17% above VT |
51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
| Braintree and Montgomery 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% |
15.5%±4.4 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%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9 VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest 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% |
2.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Montgomery 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±$31k 15% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$99,688±$21kHighest 23% above VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% 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±$34k about the VT average |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
$323,200±$45kHighest about the VT average |
| Montgomery and Plainfield 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±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$868±$209 30% 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 |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,842Highest 4% below VT |
$4,326 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Plainfield 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% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
88.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest 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 |
1980Highest 4 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 |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.