What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).

Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k median).

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	Orleans
People
Population	1,314Highest	809Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT	41.7±5.8Lowest 3% below VT
	Plainfield and Orleans 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%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9%
	Orleans and Plainfield 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%	19.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Plainfield and Orleans 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%	24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%	3.7%±2.1Highest VT: 7%
	Orleans 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±$31kHighest 15% below VT	$57,159±$10kLowest 30% below VT
	Plainfield and Orleans 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	$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT	$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,806Highest 5% below VT	$3,019Lowest 40% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4%	27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Plainfield and Orleans 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%	8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	64.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Highest 21 yrs older than VT	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest about the VT average	31 minHighest 33% above VT
Work from home	16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9%	8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Plainfield and Orleans 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.