Compare towns
Brookfield 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
Brookfield has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Castleton has the most expensive homes ($225k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
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 | Brookfield | Castleton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,150 |
4,453Highest |
1,016Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±6.1Highest 6% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below 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 | 21.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest 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+ | 16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2 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 | $69,205±$9kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$70,673±$6k 12% 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 | $152,800±$28kLowest 54% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kHighest 32% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17k 53% 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 | $981±$75 31% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% 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 | $3,197Highest about the U.S. average |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±35.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5Lowest 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 | 16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Highest 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 |
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.