Compare towns
Barton vs Castleton vs Plainfield vs Brighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
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 | Barton | Castleton | Plainfield | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,314 |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5 7% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
| Plainfield and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$47,375±$21k 42% below VT |
| Castleton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$163,900±$39k 48% below VT |
| Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$775±$33 37% below VT |
| Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185 37% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,360 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Barton 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.