Compare towns
Plainfield vs Vernon vs Highgate 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 the most expensive homes ($318k median).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Groton has the most homeowners (94.4%).
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 | Highgate | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
2,709 |
3,528Highest |
967Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
42.6±5.4Lowest about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
| Plainfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Highgate 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% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon and Highgate 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% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Groton 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 |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
| Vernon and Highgate 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 |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$243,000±$70kLowest 23% 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 |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,659 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Highgate 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% 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 |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
30 min 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Highgate 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Vernon School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.