Compare towns

Brookfield vs Plainfield vs Springfield vs Windham

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%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldPlainfieldSpringfieldWindham
People
Population
1,486
1,314
9,084Highest
594Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.3%
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
47±5.9
9% above VT
48.1±5.5Highest
12% above VT
43.2±3.7Lowest
about the VT average
44.2±7.4
about the VT average
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%±4.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.3%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.6%±3.4
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
Brookfield and Springfield 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%
21.1%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
23.6%±3.7
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
Brookfield and Springfield 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%
48.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
23.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±2.4Highest
VT: 7%
2.1%±1.3
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.4
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Brookfield and Springfield 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
$69,250±$31k
15% below VT
$66,571±$13kLowest
18% below VT
$94,500±$12k
16% above VT
Brookfield and Windham 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
$318,400±$34k
about the VT average
$192,400±$20kLowest
39% below VT
$353,900±$20kHighest
12% above VT
Windham 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
$1,153±$103Highest
7% below VT
$963±$100Lowest
22% below VT
—
Plainfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,560Lowest
10% below VT
$4,806
5% below VT
$4,807
5% below VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.4%±27.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
49.6%±15.6
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
Plainfield and Springfield 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%
11.6%
VT: 10.1%
14.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
67.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
1 yr older than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1958
18 yrs older than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
55% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
27 min
16% above VT
27 min
14% above VT
Work from home
27.3%±10.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.4%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
15.1%±5.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
Brookfield and Windham 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 — — #64 of 70 in VT —
School district Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 — River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District —
High school in town None in town — Springfield High School —
Students per teacherat that high school — —
14.3
—
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.