Compare towns
Brandon vs Charleston vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has the most affordable homes ($228k median).
Charleston has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Brandon | Charleston | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
936Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Charleston and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
37.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$238,000±$53k 28% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
$979±$444Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 36% above U.S. |
$3,750Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±26.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brandon and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Charleston 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 | #69 of 70 in VT | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Charleston School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — |
| 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.