Compare towns

Brookfield vs Arlington 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 expensive homes ($339k median).
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Plainfield has the most renters (19.1% rent).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldArlingtonPlainfield
People
Population
1,486
2,598Highest
1,314Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47±5.9
9% above VT
37.6±4Lowest
13% below VT
48.1±5.5Highest
12% above VT
Plainfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±4.1
VT: 17.9%
20.6%±3.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.3%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Arlington and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.7%±6.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.7%±3.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21.1%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
55.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48.2%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±2.4
VT: 7%
3.3%±1.7Highest
VT: 7%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
Arlington and Brookfield 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
$102,308±$11kHighest
26% above VT
$69,250±$31kLowest
15% below VT
Arlington 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±$15kHighest
7% above VT
$318,500±$59k
about the VT average
$318,400±$34kLowest
about the VT average
Brookfield and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$975±$306Lowest
21% below VT
$1,191±$172Highest
3% below VT
$1,153±$103
7% below VT
Arlington 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
$4,549Lowest
10% below VT
$4,806Highest
5% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.4%±27.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
77.1%±9.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
73.2%±53.9
VT: 48.4%
Arlington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7.5%
VT: 10.1%
11.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84%
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
1 yr older than VT
1966
10 yrs older than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
55% above VT
20 minLowest
13% below VT
24 min
about the VT average
Work from home
27.3%±10.4
VT: 16.9%
35.9%±10.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.4%±4.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Arlington 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 — #50 of 70 in VT —
School district Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Arlington School District —
High school in town None in town Arlington Memorial —
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.6
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.