Compare towns

Brookfield vs Plainfield vs Wheelock

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).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k 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.

MeasureBrookfieldPlainfieldWheelock
People
Population
1,486Highest
1,314
717Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-6.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47±5.9Lowest
9% above VT
48.1±5.5
12% above VT
51±5.6Highest
18% above VT
Wheelock and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±4.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.3%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±3.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
29.7%±6.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.1%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29.4%±4.7
VT: 21.4%
Brookfield and Wheelock 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%
34.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±2.4Highest
VT: 7%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
2.8%±2.3
VT: 7%
Brookfield and Wheelock 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
$64,792±$20kLowest
20% below VT
Brookfield and Plainfield 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
$318,400±$34k
about the VT average
$189,600±$37kLowest
40% below VT
Brookfield and Plainfield 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
$1,153±$103Highest
7% 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
$4,560
10% below VT
$4,806Highest
5% below VT
$2,937Lowest
42% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.4%±27.8
VT: 48.4%
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Plainfield and Brookfield 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%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
97.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
1 yr older than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1989Highest
13 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
55% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
28 min
17% above VT
Work from home
27.3%±10.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.4%±4.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
21.1%±16
VT: 16.9%
Brookfield and Wheelock 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.