Compare towns
Plainfield vs Groton vs Brookfield 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%).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Groton | Brookfield | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
967Lowest |
1,486Highest |
1,047 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
45.7±5.8Lowest 6% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above 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% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Plainfield 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% |
20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Brookfield 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% |
38.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Groton and Brookfield 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 |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
| Brookfield and Groton 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 |
$243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
| Brookfield and Montgomery 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 |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$868±$209 30% below VT |
| Plainfield and Brookfield 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 |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$4,326 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 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% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 min 29% above VT |
37 min 55% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.