What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).

Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Plainfield	Groton
People
Population	1,314Highest	967Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT	45.7±5.8Lowest 6% above VT
	Plainfield and Groton 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%	13.3%±2.9Lowest 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%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4%	20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Plainfield and Groton 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%	38.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.3Lowest 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±$31kLowest 15% 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	$243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT
	Plainfield and Groton 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	$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,806Highest 5% below VT	$3,659Lowest 27% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4%	12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Plainfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.6%Highest VT: 10.1%	6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	94.4%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 21 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%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9%	12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Plainfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.