What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the most kids (16.3% under 18).

North Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

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.

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

Measure	Plainfield	North Bennington
People
Population	1,314Lowest	1,336Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+4.4%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT	43.9±10Lowest about the VT average
	Plainfield and North Bennington 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%	10.4%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Plainfield and North Bennington 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%	31.9%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4%
	North Bennington 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%	41.4%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%	21.6%±6.5Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,250±$31kHighest 15% below VT	$68,571±$10kLowest 16% below VT
	Plainfield and North Bennington 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	$313,000±$40kLowest about the VT average
	Plainfield and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT	$1,447±$278Highest 17% above VT
	North Bennington 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	$5,590Highest 11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4%	53.7%±26.9Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Plainfield and North Bennington 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%	7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	61.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT	1957Highest 19 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest about the VT average	18 minLowest 24% below VT
Work from home	16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9%	17.3%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9%
	North Bennington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.