Compare towns
Plainfield vs Williston vs Ripton 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Williston | Ripton | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
10,144Highest |
508Lowest |
967 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
| Plainfield and Ripton 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
| Ripton and Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT |
| Williston and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
— | $288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 5% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Ripton 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Ripton 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school 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.