Compare towns
Plainfield vs Highgate vs Montgomery vs Brookfield
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%).
Highgate has the most affordable homes ($281k median).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Highgate | Montgomery | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
3,528Highest |
1,047Lowest |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
47±5.9 9% 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% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest 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%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4 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% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Brookfield 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 |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
| Brookfield and Highgate 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 |
$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
| 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 |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
$975±$306 21% 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,326 14% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 32% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
37 min 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.