What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the most homeowners (80.9%).

Montpelier has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Plainfield	Montpelier
People
Population	1,314Lowest	8,014Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT	42.3±2.4Lowest about the VT average
	Plainfield and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9%	17.9%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9%
	Montpelier 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%	24.3%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4%
	Montpelier 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%Lowest VT: 43.8%	66.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%	5%±1.6Highest VT: 7%
	Montpelier 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	$81,030±$6kHighest about the VT average
	Montpelier 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±$34kLowest about the VT average	$375,100±$21kHighest 18% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT	$1,302±$113Highest 6% above VT
	Montpelier and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,806Lowest 5% below VT	$6,936Highest 38% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4%	42.4%±9.5Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Plainfield and Montpelier 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%	6.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955 21 yrs older than VT	1955 21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest about the VT average	18 minLowest 23% below VT
Work from home	16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9%	26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#9 of 70 in VT
School district	—	Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71
High school in town	—	Montpelier High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.