Compare towns
Brookfield vs Hardwick 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).
Hardwick has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Hardwick | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,150 |
2,965Highest |
1,016Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±6.1 6% above U.S. |
47.1±7.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Brookfield 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% |
15.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield and Hardwick 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% |
27%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick 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% |
33.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,205±$9kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
| Hardwick 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. |
$184,700±$39kHighest 44% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17k 53% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $981±$75Highest 31% below U.S. |
$875±$406 38% below U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Brookfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,197 about the U.S. average |
$4,351Highest 39% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±35.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookfield and Hardwick 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% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hardwick and Brookfield 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 | — | #68 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | — |
| High school in town | — | Hazen Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.