Compare towns
Barnard vs Plainfield vs Castleton
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%).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Plainfield | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
2,522 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Highest 9% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Barnard and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest 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%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnard and Castleton 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% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% 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. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% 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 |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 94% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Plainfield 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnard and Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Plainfield School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.