Compare towns
Plainfield vs Vernon vs Franklin
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 oldest population (median age 48.1).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% 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.
| Measure | Plainfield | Vernon | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314Lowest |
2,709Highest |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
| Plainfield and Vernon 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% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Plainfield 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% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon 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% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Vernon 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 |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
| Vernon and Franklin 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 |
$285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
$247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
| Plainfield and Vernon 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 |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
| Plainfield and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 5% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Franklin 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% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
25 minHighest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin 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 | — | #30 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Vernon School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.