Compare towns
Plainfield vs Ripton vs Barnard
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314Highest |
508Lowest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Barnard 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
| Ripton and Barnard 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 |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
| Barnard and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
— | $1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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.