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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Fairlee | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314Highest |
1,066 |
967Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
45.7±5.8Lowest 6% above VT |
| Fairlee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest 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% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Groton and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$77,250±$14kHighest 5% below VT |
| Groton and Fairlee 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 |
$274,200±$39k 13% 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 |
$1,083±$242 12% 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 | $4,806 5% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest 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% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min 3% above VT |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.