Compare towns

Plainfield vs Highgate vs Salisbury

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 people working from home (16.4%).
Highgate has the most affordable homes ($281k median).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldHighgateSalisbury
People
Population
1,314
3,528Highest
1,200Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
-1.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+7.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.1±5.5
12% above VT
44±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
50.6±6.5Highest
17% above VT
Salisbury 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%±5.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
16.6%±3.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
Salisbury 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%
30.4%±2.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
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%±1.3
VT: 7%
2.6%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
1.6%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Highgate 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
$81,017±$14k
about the VT average
$99,688±$21kHighest
23% above VT
Salisbury 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±$34kHighest
about the VT average
$280,500±$21kLowest
11% below VT
$306,900±$51k
3% below VT
Plainfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,153±$103
7% below VT
$895±$691Lowest
27% below VT
$1,443±$984Highest
17% above VT
Salisbury and Plainfield 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
$4,842Highest
4% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
30.5%±11.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
31.9%±22.6
VT: 48.4%
Plainfield and Salisbury 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%
8.1%
VT: 10.1%
4.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
80.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1967
9 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
31 minHighest
32% above VT
19 minLowest
20% below VT
Work from home
16.4%±4.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
14.9%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
6%±2.2Lowest
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 —
School district — Missisquoi Valley School District #89 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town — Missisquoi Valley Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.8
—
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.