Compare towns
Plainfield vs Fairlee 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 most kids (16.3% under 18).
Fairlee has the most people working from home (23.5%).
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 | Fairlee | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314Highest |
54Lowest |
967 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
63.5±7.6Highest 47% above VT |
45.7±5.8Lowest 6% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
0%±52.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Groton 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% |
37%±54.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
11.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0%±26.2Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Groton 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 |
$21,071±$13kLowest 74% below VT |
$77,250±$14kHighest 5% below VT |
| Groton 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±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$277,500±$28k 12% below VT |
$243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT |
| Plainfield and Fairlee 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 |
$1,057±$620 14% below VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Plainfield and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,750 26% below VT |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
100%±55.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
50%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
57.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
— | 30 minHighest 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.5%±30.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairlee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.