Compare towns

Brattleboro vs Enfield 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

Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

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.

MeasureBrattleboroEnfieldPlainfield
People
Population
12,122Highest
4,475
2,522Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±4.5
17% above U.S.
58.3±5.4Highest
50% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
19%±2.8
U.S.: 22%
7.9%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.5%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
30.7%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Enfield and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
43%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% below U.S.
$95,474±$19k
18% above U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
Plainfield and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$257,300±$18kLowest
23% below U.S.
$390,800±$71k
17% above U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
Plainfield and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,074±$58Lowest
24% below U.S.
$1,181±$563
16% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
Plainfield and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,700Lowest
83% above U.S.
$6,203
99% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±9.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
17.8%±16.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Brattleboro and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
17.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
24 minHighest
10% below U.S.
22 min
17% below U.S.
Work from home
17.9%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
11%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Brattleboro 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 #33 of 70 in VT #5 of 120 in NH #19 of 120 in NH
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Mascoma Valley Regional School District Plainfield School District
High school in town Brattleboro Union High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.0
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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.