Compare towns
Brookline vs Plainfield vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k 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.
| Measure | Brookline | Plainfield | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,314 |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Brookline and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
| Brookline and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Plainfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 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 | 6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline 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 | — | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
| 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.