Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Castleton vs Plainfield vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($80k median).
Castleton has the most expensive homes ($225k median).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.6%).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 41.2).
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 | Bridgewater | Castleton | Plainfield | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 543Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,016 |
2,150 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.1±6.8Lowest 15% below U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
34.5±6.6 11% below U.S. |
41.2±6.1Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Castleton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $35,694±$8kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
$69,205±$9k 14% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $80,000±$43kLowest 76% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kHighest 32% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17k 53% below U.S. |
$152,800±$28k 54% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $735±$16Lowest 48% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$750±$207 47% below U.S. |
$981±$75 31% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,167Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$2,667 14% below U.S. |
$3,197Highest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.1%±38.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±35.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 28.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1948Lowest 32 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — |
| High school 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.