Compare towns
Brookfield vs Putney vs Underhill 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%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Underhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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 | Putney | Underhill | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486 |
2,622 |
3,141Highest |
1,314Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 9% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
38.1±11.4 12% 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill 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% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest 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% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Brookfield and Underhill 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 |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306 21% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% 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 | $4,560Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Underhill 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #2 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.