Compare towns
Plainfield vs Highgate vs Northfield
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 highest household income ($81k).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Highgate | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314Lowest |
3,528 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Plainfield and Highgate 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% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Highgate 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% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate 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% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
| Highgate and Northfield 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 |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$274,400±$21kLowest 13% below VT |
| Plainfield and Highgate 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±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Plainfield and Northfield 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Northfield 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Highgate 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 | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.0Highest |
| 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.