Compare towns

Barnard vs Brookline vs Plainfield

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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.

MeasureBarnardBrooklinePlainfield
People
Population
1,211
531Lowest
1,314Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42.4±6Lowest
about the VT average
45.1±2.7
5% above VT
48.1±5.5Highest
12% above VT
Plainfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
26.9%±5.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
20%±6
VT: 17.9%
16.3%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Barnard and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22%±3.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.6%±4.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21.1%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
Barnard and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
41.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.2%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.8
VT: 7%
3.2%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
Brookline and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,581±$19kHighest
20% above VT
$80,833±$16k
about the VT average
$69,250±$31kLowest
15% below VT
Barnard and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$402,600±$71kHighest
27% above VT
$290,700±$37kLowest
8% below VT
$318,400±$34k
about the VT average
Barnard and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,372±$80
11% above VT
$1,732±$232Highest
40% above VT
$1,153±$103Lowest
7% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,038Highest
20% above VT
$5,000
about the VT average
$4,806Lowest
5% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27%±19.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
47.8%±94.7
VT: 48.4%
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
Plainfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
6.2%
VT: 10.1%
11.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1975Highest
1 yr older than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
21% above VT
28 min
21% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
19.3%±10.8
VT: 16.9%
20.6%±5.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.4%±4.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Brookline and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 — —
High school in town None in town — —
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.