Compare towns
Castleton vs Cornwall vs Northfield vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Cornwall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
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 | Castleton | Cornwall | Northfield | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,208Lowest |
5,920Highest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Cornwall and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Cornwall and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.