Compare towns
Brookfield vs Randolph vs Newfane 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).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Newfane has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
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 | Randolph | Newfane | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486 |
4,843Highest |
1,456 |
1,314Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 9% above VT |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Newfane 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% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Randolph 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% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Newfane 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% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Brookfield and Randolph 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 |
$278,700±$38kLowest 12% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| 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 |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Newfane and Randolph 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 |
$4,698 7% below VT |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Randolph 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% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Brookfield 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 | — | #55 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4 |
— | — |
| 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.