Compare towns

Richmond vs Plainfield vs Bolton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Richmond has the most expensive homes ($432k median).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).

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.

MeasureRichmondPlainfieldBolton
People
Population
4,159Highest
1,314
1,163Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.1%
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+10.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
43.7±5.6
about the VT average
48.1±5.5Highest
12% above VT
36.3±1.7Lowest
16% below VT
Plainfield and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.5%±5Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.3%±4.7
VT: 17.9%
14.9%±4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Richmond and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.5%±6.3
VT: 21.4%
21.1%±3.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
6.7%±2.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Plainfield and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
58.4%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.7Highest
VT: 7%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
2.7%±1.8
VT: 7%
Richmond and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$108,235±$24k
33% above VT
$69,250±$31kLowest
15% below VT
$111,125±$17kHighest
37% above VT
Bolton and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$432,200±$39kHighest
37% above VT
$318,400±$34k
about the VT average
$311,600±$42kLowest
about the VT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,153±$103Lowest
7% below VT
$1,299±$273Highest
5% above VT
Bolton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,868Highest
36% above VT
$4,806Lowest
5% below VT
$4,826
4% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.5%±15.8
VT: 48.4%
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
28%±30.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Plainfield and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.2%
VT: 10.1%
11.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
2.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
81.6%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
7 yrs newer than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
28 minHighest
17% above VT
Work from home
22.5%±6.1
VT: 16.9%
16.4%±4.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±8.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
Bolton and Richmond 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 #5 of 70 in VT — —
School district Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 — Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.