Compare towns
Plainfield 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 the shortest commute (24 min average).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
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 | Westminster | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314Highest |
497Lowest |
967 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest 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%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield and Groton 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% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 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 |
$81,000±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
| Westminster and Groton 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 |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$243,000±$70kLowest 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 |
$749±$315 39% below VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Plainfield and Westminster 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 |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Groton 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% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 min 26% above VT |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest 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 | — |
| 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.