Compare towns
Plainfield vs Putney vs Highgate vs Montgomery
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%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Highgate has the most affordable homes ($281k median).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Putney | Highgate | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
2,622 |
3,528Highest |
1,047Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Highgate 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
| Highgate and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
$323,200±$45kHighest about the VT average |
| Montgomery 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$868±$209 30% below VT |
| Plainfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 5% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,326 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.