Compare towns
Plainfield vs Richmond 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 most affordable homes ($318k median).
Richmond has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Plainfield | Richmond | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
4,159Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest 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%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34kLowest about the VT average |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Richmond and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest 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% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond and Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.