Compare towns
Brookfield vs Andover vs Braintree vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Andover has the most expensive homes ($383k median).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Andover | Braintree | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486Highest |
616Lowest |
1,026 |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9Lowest 9% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Brookfield and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Andover and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Andover and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306 21% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Andover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560 10% below VT |
$5,190Highest about the VT average |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.