What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the most people working from home (16.4%).

Ryegate has the most kids (23.2% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Plainfield	Ryegate
People
Population	1,314Highest	1,059Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8%	-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT	41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT
	Plainfield and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9%	23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9%
	Ryegate 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%	22.1%±1.5Highest VT: 21.4%
	Ryegate 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%	29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%	2.4%±1.4Highest VT: 7%
	Ryegate and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,250±$31kHighest 15% below VT	$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT
	Plainfield and Ryegate 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	$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT	$908±$236Lowest 26% below VT
	Plainfield and Ryegate 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	$3,472Lowest 31% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4%	55.9%±29.7Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Plainfield and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.6%Lowest VT: 10.1%	14.5%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	84.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Highest 21 yrs older than VT	1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest about the VT average	28 minHighest 18% above VT
Work from home	16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9%	8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9%
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.