Compare towns
Plainfield vs Jay vs Montgomery vs Marshfield
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Montgomery has the most expensive homes ($323k median).
Marshfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
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 | Jay | Montgomery | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
471Lowest |
1,047 |
1,863Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below VT |
| Jay and Montgomery 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
24.2%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Montgomery and Marshfield 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 |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$60,313±$10k 26% below VT |
| Jay 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±$34k about the VT average |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$323,200±$45kHighest about the VT average |
$214,100±$37kLowest 32% below VT |
| Montgomery and Plainfield 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 |
— | $868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,317±$126Highest 7% above VT |
| Marshfield and Plainfield 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,326 14% below VT |
$3,668 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
65.7%±73.8 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% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
37 min 58% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.5%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.