Compare towns
Plainfield vs Sutton vs Westminster 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Groton has the highest household income ($77k).
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 | Sutton | Westminster | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
790Lowest |
2,999Highest |
967 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
45.7±5.8Lowest 6% above VT |
| Westminster and Plainfield 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% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Sutton 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% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Sutton 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% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
38.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Groton and Westminster 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 |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$77,250±$14kHighest 5% below VT |
| Groton and Westminster 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 |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$243,000±$70k 23% below VT |
| Plainfield and Westminster 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 |
— | $916±$126 26% below VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Westminster 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% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
30 min 26% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.