Compare towns
Plainfield vs Chester 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
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 | Chester | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
2,992Highest |
1,047Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
| Montgomery and Chester 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% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Montgomery 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% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Chester 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% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Montgomery 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 |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
| Plainfield and Chester 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 |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% 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±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,326 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest 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% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 18% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Montgomery 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.