Compare towns
Plainfield vs Stowe vs Grafton
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).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
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 | Stowe | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
5,285Highest |
666Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
46.3±7.6Lowest 7% above VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe 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% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
| Grafton 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±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$93,618±$33kHighest 15% above VT |
$76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
| Stowe and Grafton 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 |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,288±$174 4% above VT |
| Stowe and Grafton 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 |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$4,843 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
24 minHighest 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Stowe Town School District | Athens Grafton School District |
| High school in town | — | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.