What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).

Poultney has the youngest population (median age 28.2).

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	Poultney
People
Population	1,314Highest	1,033Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8%	-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT	28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT
Kids under 18	16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9%	16.8%±5Highest VT: 17.9%
	Poultney 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%	21.1%±6.6 VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.2%Highest VT: 43.8%	38.4%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%	22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT	$70,536±$11kHighest 13% below VT
	Poultney 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±$34kHighest about the VT average	$196,600±$43kLowest 38% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT	$868±$113Lowest 30% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,806Highest 5% below VT	$3,450Lowest 32% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4%	23.2%±12.4Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Plainfield and Poultney 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%	11.4%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	56.7%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%	11.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Plainfield and Poultney 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	—	#41 of 70 in VT
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.