Compare towns

Plainfield vs Royalton 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 most expensive homes ($318k median).
Royalton has the highest household income ($104k).
Groton has the most homeowners (94.4%).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldRoyaltonGroton
People
Population
1,314
2,752Highest
967Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.8%
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.1±5.5Highest
12% above VT
43.9±10.1Lowest
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%±4.7Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.4%±5.8
VT: 17.9%
13.3%±2.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Plainfield and Royalton 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%
22.1%±6.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.5%±3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Royalton 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%Highest
VT: 43.8%
42.6%
VT: 43.8%
38.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
8%±4.2Highest
VT: 7%
7.5%±5.7
VT: 7%
Royalton and Groton 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
$103,938±$24kHighest
28% above VT
$77,250±$14k
5% below VT
Royalton 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±$34kHighest
about the VT average
$263,200±$73k
17% below VT
$243,000±$70kLowest
23% below VT
Plainfield and Royalton 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
$1,040±$391
16% below VT
$288±$151Lowest
77% below VT
Plainfield and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,806Highest
5% below VT
$4,675
7% below VT
$3,659Lowest
27% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
36.7%±16.1
VT: 48.4%
12.5%±72.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Plainfield and Royalton 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%
13%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
63.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1965
11 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
20 minLowest
13% below VT
30 minHighest
29% above VT
Work from home
16.4%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
17.8%±7.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.3%±7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Royalton 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 — #48 of 70 in VT —
School district — White River Unified School District #79 —
High school 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

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.