Compare towns
Plainfield vs Castleton vs Lyndeborough vs Montgomery
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Lyndeborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Lyndeborough | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
4,453Highest |
1,616 |
1,047Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
50±3.2 29% above U.S. |
51.5±11.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Montgomery and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$116,964±$17kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$390,900±$26kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$323,200±$45k about the U.S. average |
| Lyndeborough and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,482±$457Highest 5% above U.S. |
$868±$209Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 54% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$7,133Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,326 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.6%±68Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyndeborough 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 | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | 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 |
U.S. 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.