Compare towns
Plainfield vs Dummerston vs Fair Haven vs Montgomery
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Dummerston | Fair Haven | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
2,090 |
2,724Highest |
1,047Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
| Montgomery and Plainfield 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% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Fair Haven 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Dummerston 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Fair Haven 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±$31k 15% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$62,404±$16k 23% below VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
| Dummerston and Plainfield 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 |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
| Dummerston 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 7% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$868±$209 30% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
$4,326 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
15.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 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 | — | — | #66 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.