Plainfield, the primary village, is located in the northern corner of the town along the Winooski River and U.S. Route 2.

Goddard College attracts a liberal, educated population that at one time made up a significant portion of the townspeople.

Goddard alumni include Mumia Abu-Jamal, members of the band Phish, David Mamet, Piers Anthony, Mary Edwards, onetime State historian H. Allen Soule Jr., and abstract artists including Robert M. Fisher and James Gahagan.

Plainfield was home to noted composer and builder of the first American village style gamelan, Dennis Murphy.

Plainfield's atmosphere is distinct from popular tourist destinations in Vermont such as Stowe, and Woodstock in that its commercial activity is generated primarily by local residents.

This older generation has now joined with the newer, younger sustainable agriculture movement and the food renaissance in Vermont.

Community spirit and solidarity was demonstrated in 2013, when the town raised the most money per capita for Vermont Public Radio and thus earned an Ice Cream Social from Ben and Jerry's.

[16] The radio station housed at Goddard College, WGDR, continues to serve as a community voice and link for area residents.

The newly renovated Plainfield Town Hall Opera House (c. 1841) boasts a footprint of 55' 9" along the eaves, 42' 4" across the gables, and is a popular destination for local concerts and performances.