Compare towns

Brookfield vs Panton 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 highest household income ($99k).
Panton has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldPantonPlainfield
People
Population
1,486Highest
690Lowest
1,314
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%
VT: +2.8%
-4.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47±5.9
9% above VT
42.7±3.8Lowest
about the VT average
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%
24.9%±5.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.3%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Panton 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%
16.7%±2.9Lowest
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%
VT: 43.8%
35.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±2.4Highest
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.3
VT: 7%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
Brookfield and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$98,500±$23kHighest
21% above VT
$86,667±$10k
7% above VT
$69,250±$31kLowest
15% below VT
Brookfield and Panton 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
$438,000±$40kHighest
38% above VT
$318,400±$34kLowest
about the VT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$975±$306Lowest
21% below VT
$1,410±$130Highest
14% above VT
$1,153±$103
7% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,560Lowest
10% below VT
$6,695Highest
33% above VT
$4,806
5% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.4%±27.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
61%±39
VT: 48.4%
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
Plainfield and Panton 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%
3.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
11.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
83.7%
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
1 yr older than VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
55% above VT
26 min
11% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
27.3%±10.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
26.7%±8.6
VT: 16.9%
16.4%±4.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Brookfield and Panton 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 — —
High school in town None in town — —
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.