Compare towns
Plainfield vs Pownal 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Pownal has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Groton has the highest household income ($77k).
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.
| Measure | Plainfield | Pownal | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
3,265Highest |
967Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
49±9.1Highest 14% above VT |
45.7±5.8Lowest 6% above VT |
| Pownal 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% |
16.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Pownal 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% |
27.5%±6.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Pownal 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% |
28.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Groton 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±$31k 15% below VT |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below VT |
$77,250±$14kHighest 5% below VT |
| Groton 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 |
$256,600±$32k 19% below VT |
$243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT |
| Plainfield and Pownal 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 |
$944±$139 24% below VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Plainfield and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,659 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Pownal 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.6% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #67 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — |
| 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.