Rural mountain setting and essential services in Plainfield
The Vermont village of Plainfield may is filled with farms and backroads, a rural setting that makes this recreation hub in the Green Mountains a popular bedroom community for the urban centers of Barre and Montpelier. Still, locals benefit from water and sewer services, grocery and food options and highway access to the cities. "Those things don't seem like much, but when people come here from a more established community of 100,000 people, it may not be such a shock if they can get some services without having to drive far," says Lori Holt, broker with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services. The town is recovering and revitalizing after floods in 2023 and 2024.
Nineteenth-century Victorians and new housing initiatives
Plainfield's median price is around $420,000 for single-family homes, on par with nearby Montpelier. Homes here include 19th century Cape Cods, Victorians and Dutch Colonials. According to Holt, older properties can require costly renovations and maintenance. "A lot of them are painted with various colors to show off the details, which needs to be done every few years because of the weather here," she says. "People go through and weatherize them — update the windows and put in more insulation — and do some rewiring updates." Some subdivisions also feature brick ranch-style homes built in the 1960s.
This community is perched on the Winooski River, which has a long history of flooding. "It looks like a trickle most of the year, but when the snow melts, it becomes a real force through town," Holt says. Plainfield's Village Expansion Project aims to revitalize the town, rehouse those displaced in recent floods and provide more affordable housing options. The town plans to open a higher-elevation, 24-acre parcel for single and multi-family homes, tiny homes and apartments.
Shops, eateries and events in the village center
The village center features a pizza restaurant, used book store, gas station and coffee shop. Positive Pie has been a Plainfield staple for over 25 years. Originating as an authentic pizzeria, it also serves burgers, cheesesteaks, salads, signature entrees and vegetarian options. The Plainfield Co-Op sells fresh produce, meats, cheese and pantry items. It recently expanded to a larger location just outside the town center. The Health Center provides medical, dental and mental health services. About 10 miles west, Montpelier is known for its small businesses and boutiques.
Locals can supplement their options at the downtown farmers market, which takes place every Friday in the summer. The favorite Old Home Days tradition is still going strong. The two-day event in September celebrates history and community with walking tours, kids' activities, apple cider pressing and a parade.
Hiking, biking and paddling in the Groton State Forest
The adjacent Groton State Forest is one of Vermont's largest publicly-owned areas and a hub for hiking, biking, paddling and camping. At over 26,000 acres, the site encompasses several state parks with lakes, ponds and natural areas. Kettle Pond State Park features the kid-friendly Kettle Pond Trail, a mostly level 3-mile loop around the water. Groton features 17 more miles of trails, which can double as downhill or flat cross-country skiing trails. Plainfield's Recreation Field features a basketball court, tennis court, skate park, playground equipment and a baseball field.
Prekindergarten through 12 learning at Twinfield Union School
Plainfield's preschool through 12th-grade students share the Twinfield Union School, which gets a C-plus from Niche. The curriculum incorporates nature-based learning on the campus fields, forest, ponds and river. The school's small size allows for more individual student attention. The Renaissance program emphasizes personalized learning pathways for high schoolers, including projects, internships, school-to-work opportunities and academic travel. Goddard College, a longstanding private college in town, recently shut its doors.
Highway access and cold Vermont winters
Plainfield is located on U.S. Route 2, leading to Montpelier. While most residents rely on cars, Green Mountain Transit offers the U.S. 2 commuter bus to the city. Vermont's cold and snowy winters can pose a challenge for work commutes and car longevity, Holt says. "But you get all the other benefits that come with Vermont: you have the change of seasons, hiking right out your door, beautiful ponds you can canoe on, all kinds of state land you can access, farmers' markets. It's a way of life, and as long as people understand the good and bad coming here, they'll probably be pretty happy."
