Compare towns

Plainfield vs Mount Tabor vs Castleton 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 people working from home (16.4%).
Mount Tabor has the most expensive homes ($421k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Groton has the most homeowners (94.4%).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldMount TaborCastletonGroton
People
Population
1,314
304Lowest
4,453Highest
967
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
-5.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.1±5.5
12% above VT
57.8±10.6Highest
34% above VT
38.3±4.3Lowest
11% below VT
45.7±5.8
6% above VT
Mount Tabor and Plainfield 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%
10.2%±6.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±6.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.3%±2.9
VT: 17.9%
Castleton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.1%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
42.4%±18.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.7%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
20.5%±3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Mount Tabor 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%
34.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
37.9%
VT: 43.8%
38.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3
VT: 7%
1.6%±4Lowest
VT: 7%
19.3%±1.8Highest
VT: 7%
7.5%±5.7
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$69,250±$31kLowest
15% below VT
—
$73,854±$23k
9% below VT
$77,250±$14kHighest
5% below VT
Groton and Castleton 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
$420,500±$76kHighest
33% above VT
$224,800±$71kLowest
29% below VT
$243,000±$70k
23% below VT
Mount Tabor 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
$2,143±$367Highest
74% above VT
$1,137±$195
8% below VT
$288±$151Lowest
77% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,806
5% below VT
$5,233Highest
4% above VT
$3,167Lowest
37% below VT
$3,659
27% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
67.7%±21.9
VT: 48.4%
12.5%±72.9
VT: 48.4%
Plainfield and Castleton 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%
11%
VT: 10.1%
12.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
92.3%
VT: 73.2%
79%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955
21 yrs older than VT
1946Lowest
30 yrs older than VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
46 minHighest
94% above VT
19 minLowest
17% below VT
30 min
29% above VT
Work from home
16.4%±4.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
10.4%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
12.3%±7
VT: 16.9%
Plainfield and Groton 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 — — #39 of 70 in VT —
School district — — Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 —
High school 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.