Compare towns
Barnard vs Castleton vs Plainfield vs Stockbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Stockbridge has the most people working from home (28.6%).
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 | Barnard | Castleton | Plainfield | Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
4,453Highest |
2,522 |
791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
55.3±5.3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stockbridge and Barnard 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$77,109±$12k 4% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$283,500±$26k 15% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,140±$126 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 94% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,488 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.3%±22 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.6%±12.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stockbridge and Barnard 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Plainfield School District | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.