Compare towns
Benson vs Brookfield vs Plainfield vs Stockbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($99k).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Stockbridge has the oldest population (median age 55.3).
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 | Benson | Brookfield | Plainfield | Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,486Highest |
1,314 |
791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
47±5.9Lowest 9% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
55.3±5.3Highest 28% above VT |
| Stockbridge and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
9.9%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$77,109±$12k 5% below VT |
| Brookfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$283,500±$26k 10% below VT |
| Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$1,140±$126 8% below VT |
| Plainfield and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$4,488 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.3%±22 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.6%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Stockbridge and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| 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 |
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.