Compare towns
Plainfield vs Waterville vs Brookfield vs Montgomery
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Waterville | Brookfield | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
680Lowest |
1,486Highest |
1,047 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
47±5.9Lowest 9% above VT |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
| Montgomery and Waterville 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% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Brookfield 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% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
| Brookfield and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
| Brookfield and Montgomery 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 |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
| Plainfield and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$4,326 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Plainfield 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% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
37 min 55% above VT |
37 min 58% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.