Compare towns
Plainfield vs Middlebury vs Groton
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 kids (16.3% under 18).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
7,220Highest |
967Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+10.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
23.7±1.3Lowest 45% below VT |
45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
| Plainfield and Groton 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% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% VT: 43.8% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
40.9%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$86,250±$18kHighest 6% above VT |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
| Middlebury and Groton 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 |
$417,400±$31kHighest 32% above VT |
$243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,201±$120Highest about the VT average |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Middlebury 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 |
$6,795Highest 35% above VT |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.6%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Middlebury 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% |
15.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
56.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury and Plainfield 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 | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.