Compare towns

Plainfield vs Lowell vs Vernon

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%).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Vernon has the highest household income ($86k).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldLowellVernon
People
Population
1,314
1,070Lowest
2,709Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+0.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.1±5.5Highest
12% above VT
32.9±6.5Lowest
24% below VT
42.6±5.4
about the VT average
Plainfield and Vernon 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%
30.7%±6.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.1%±3.6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
21.1%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
12.3%±4.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
22.8%±2.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
Vernon 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%
19.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
26.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
2.8%±1.9
VT: 7%
3%±1.7Highest
VT: 7%
Vernon and Lowell 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
$57,404±$15kLowest
29% below VT
$85,682±$9kHighest
6% above VT
Vernon 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±$34kHighest
about the VT average
$183,400±$33kLowest
42% below VT
$285,100±$25k
10% below VT
Plainfield and Vernon 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
$945±$46Lowest
23% below VT
$1,023±$214
17% below VT
Plainfield and Vernon 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
$2,810Lowest
44% below VT
$5,191Highest
3% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
26.3%±92.9
VT: 48.4%
26.2%±3.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Plainfield and Lowell 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%
9.6%
VT: 10.1%
5.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
94.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
76.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
55 minHighest
135% above VT
20 minLowest
14% below VT
Work from home
16.4%±4.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
7.5%±2.3
VT: 16.9%
6.4%±3.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — #30 of 70 in VT
School district — Lowell School District Vernon School District
High school in town — None in town None in town
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.