Compare towns
Brookfield vs Springfield vs Elmore 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%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Springfield | Elmore | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486 |
9,084Highest |
964Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 9% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
45±3.5 4% above 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% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore 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% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 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% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.8% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 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±$23k 21% above VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Elmore and Brookfield 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
$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±$306 21% below VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,225±$263Highest about the VT average |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Elmore and Plainfield 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 |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$5,066Highest about the VT average |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest 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% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
29 min 25% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Plainfield 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 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town | — |
| 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.