What stands out worked out from the figures below

Poultney has the most renters (43.3% rent).

Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Poultney	Plainfield
People
Population	1,033Highest	1,016Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-33.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	28.2±4.5Lowest 28% below U.S.	34.5±6.6Highest 11% below U.S.
	Plainfield and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.8%±5Highest U.S.: 22%	15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Poultney and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.1%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Poultney and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	22.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	14.9%±11.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Poultney and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,536±$11kLowest 13% below U.S.	$70,673±$6kHighest 12% below U.S.
	Plainfield and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$196,600±$43kHighest 41% below U.S.	$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S.
	Poultney and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$868±$113Highest 39% below U.S.	$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S.
	Poultney and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,450Highest 11% above U.S.	$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.2%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	40.6%±43.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plainfield and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 19% above U.S.	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	11.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainfield and Poultney 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	#41 of 70 in VT	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.