Compare towns

Plainfield vs Poultney vs Ripton

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 oldest population (median age 48.1).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 28.2).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldPoultneyRipton
People
Population
1,314Highest
1,033
508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
-33.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.1±5.5Highest
12% above VT
28.2±4.5Lowest
35% below VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
Plainfield and Ripton 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%
16.8%±5Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
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%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21.1%±6.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
Ripton 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%
38.4%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
22.1%±3.3Highest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3
VT: 7%
Poultney and Ripton 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
$70,536±$11k
13% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$318,400±$34k
about the VT average
$196,600±$43kLowest
38% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
Ripton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,153±$103Highest
7% below VT
$868±$113Lowest
30% below VT
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,806
5% below VT
$3,450Lowest
32% below VT
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
23.2%±12.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
Plainfield and Ripton 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%
VT: 10.1%
8.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
56.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955
21 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1973Highest
3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
about the VT average
31 minHighest
33% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
Work from home
16.4%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
11.3%±3.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
Ripton and Plainfield 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 —
School district — — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town — — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.