Compare towns
Brookfield vs Cavendish vs Strafford 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 people working from home (27.3%).
Cavendish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
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 | Cavendish | Strafford | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486Highest |
1,242Lowest |
1,372 |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 9% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Strafford and Plainfield 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% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Cavendish 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% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Cavendish 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 |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Plainfield and Strafford 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 |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Strafford 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% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Cavendish 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Strafford School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.