Compare towns
Plainfield vs Ripton vs Guildhall 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 the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Guildhall has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Guildhall | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314Highest |
508 |
371Lowest |
1,047 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
42.6±7.8Lowest 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%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±7.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Guildhall and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±5.5 VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Ripton 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% VT: 43.8% |
33.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
| Guildhall and Ripton 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±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$321,200±$62k about the VT average |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Montgomery 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 |
— | $850±$717Lowest 31% below VT |
$868±$209 30% below VT |
| Plainfield and Montgomery 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 |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,625 8% below VT |
$4,326Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
75%±100 VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Guildhall 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% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.9% VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Plainfield 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.