Compare towns
Arlington vs Castleton vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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.
| Measure | Arlington | Castleton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,598 |
4,453Highest |
1,314Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Arlington and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Arlington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Arlington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 13% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Arlington School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.