Compare towns
Plainfield vs Ripton vs Royalton vs Marshfield
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Royalton has the most renters (36.5% rent).
Marshfield has the most kids (24.2% 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 | Royalton | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
508Lowest |
2,752Highest |
1,863 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
24.2%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
38.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$103,938±$24k 28% above VT |
$60,313±$10kLowest 26% below VT |
| Ripton and Royalton 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
$214,100±$37kLowest 32% below VT |
| Ripton and Plainfield 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 |
— | $1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,317±$126Highest 7% above VT |
| Marshfield and Plainfield 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 |
$4,675 7% below VT |
$3,668Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
65.7%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Marshfield 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% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1965 11 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
24.5%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield and Royalton 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 | — | — | #48 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | White River Unified School District #79 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | White River Valley High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.