Compare towns
Brighton vs Castleton 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
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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.
| Measure | Brighton | Castleton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6Highest 16% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
| Brighton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360 8% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Brighton 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brighton School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Plainfield School District |
| 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 |
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.