Compare towns

Brookline vs Newfane vs Plainfield vs Westminster

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).

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.

MeasureBrooklineNewfanePlainfieldWestminster
People
Population
531
1,456
2,522Highest
497Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
54.4±3.9Highest
40% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.3±11.5
11% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20%±6
U.S.: 22%
11.1%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8
U.S.: 22%
28.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Westminster and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.6%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.2%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±11.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,833±$16k
about the U.S. average
$66,719±$21kLowest
17% below U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$81,000±$22k
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$290,700±$37k
13% below U.S.
$284,200±$49kLowest
15% below U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$313,600±$39k
6% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
$1,266±$238
10% below U.S.
$1,674±$181
18% above U.S.
$749±$315Lowest
47% below U.S.
Brookline and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000
60% above U.S.
$5,174
66% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$4,480Lowest
44% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7
U.S.: 51.1%
51.9%±79.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
6.1%±43.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Newfane and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
8% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
30 minHighest
13% above U.S.
Work from home
20.6%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
30.8%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.1%±15.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfane and Westminster 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 — — #19 of 120 in NH #53 of 70 in VT
School district — West River Valley Union Education District #72A Plainfield School District —
High school in town — None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 6 photos → None yet None yet

U.S. 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.