Compare towns

Plainfield vs Mendon vs Dummerston vs Montgomery

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 affordable homes ($318k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Montgomery has the most renters (19.3% rent).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldMendonDummerstonMontgomery
People
Population
1,314
1,113
2,090Highest
1,047Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
+8.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
-1.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.1±5.5
12% above VT
53.4±10.5Highest
24% above VT
45.6±11.7Lowest
6% above VT
51.5±11.3
19% above VT
Mendon 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%
14.6%±5.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.5%±4.4
VT: 17.9%
Dummerston 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%
29%±1.3
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3
VT: 21.4%
33.9%±8.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
Montgomery and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
49.4%
VT: 43.8%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
52.8%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
2.8%±3.2
VT: 7%
Mendon 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
$100,524±$23k
24% above VT
$101,696±$21kHighest
25% above VT
$53,289±$24kLowest
34% below VT
Dummerston and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$318,400±$34kLowest
about the VT average
$357,000±$44kHighest
13% above VT
$335,300±$22k
6% above VT
$323,200±$45k
about the VT average
Mendon and Dummerston 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
$1,230±$651
about the VT average
$1,392±$126Highest
13% above VT
$868±$209Lowest
30% below VT
Dummerston and Mendon 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
$5,342Highest
6% above VT
$4,536
10% below VT
$4,326Lowest
14% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9
VT: 48.4%
88.6%±42.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
76.6%±68
VT: 48.4%
Mendon and Montgomery 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%
8.2%
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
15.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
92.2%
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
17 minLowest
28% below VT
21 min
11% below VT
37 minHighest
58% above VT
Work from home
16.4%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
22.5%±8.9
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
16%±5.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Dummerston and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 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.