Compare towns
Plainfield vs Castleton vs Dummerston 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 oldest population (median age 48.1).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
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 | Castleton | Dummerston | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
4,453Highest |
2,090 |
967Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
| Plainfield and Groton 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Plainfield 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
| Dummerston and Groton 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$243,000±$70k 23% below VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$3,659 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Plainfield 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| 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.