What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).

Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).

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	Springfield
People
Population	1,314Lowest	9,084Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT	43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average
	Plainfield and Springfield 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%	18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9%
	Springfield 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%	23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4%
	Springfield 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%	23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%	2.3%±1.4Highest VT: 7%
	Springfield 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	$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT
	Plainfield and Springfield 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	$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT	$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT
	Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,806Lowest 5% below VT	$4,807Highest 5% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4%	49.6%±15.6Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Plainfield and Springfield 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%	14.8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT	1958Highest 18 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest about the VT average	27 minHighest 16% above VT
Work from home	16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9%	15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Plainfield and Springfield 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	—	#64 of 70 in VT
School district	—	River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District
High school in town	—	Springfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	14.3
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.