Compare towns
Plainfield vs Richmond 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 oldest population (median age 48.1).
Richmond has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
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 | Richmond | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
4,159Highest |
967Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
43.7±5.6Lowest 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%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield and Groton 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% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Groton and Richmond 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 |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
| Richmond and Groton 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 |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
— | $288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 5% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Richmond 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% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond 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 | — | #5 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.