Compare towns
Plainfield vs Putney vs Vernon 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 the most expensive homes ($318k median).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Vernon has the highest household income ($86k).
Groton has the most homeowners (94.4%).
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 | Vernon | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
2,622 |
2,709Highest |
967Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
| Plainfield and Groton 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%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Putney 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% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
| Vernon 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±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
$243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT |
| Plainfield and Putney 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±$482 59% below VT |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Plainfield and Vernon 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 |
$5,191 3% above VT |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Putney 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% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7 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 | #30 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Vernon School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.