Compare towns
Barnard vs Plainfield vs Castleton vs Bridgewater
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Barnard | Plainfield | Castleton | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
2,522 |
4,453Highest |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±0.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% |
40.3% 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% |
5.8%±3.8 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±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% 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±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$218,300±$55kLowest 34% 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±$195 20% below U.S. |
$850±$778Lowest 40% 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 |
$3,418 10% above U.S. |
| 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% |
59.7%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Bridgewater 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%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% |
85.4% 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. |
1976 4 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. |
24 min 9% 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% |
10.5%±6.6 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 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.